Debate: Should TikTok Divest or Face a Ban?

As TikTok has grown in popularity, so too have concerns about its parent company ByteDance, and its capacity as a vector for surveillance and propaganda by the Chinese government.

With new legislation, Congress may be on the verge of action. The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which passed the House with a 352-65 vote and now faces ongoing discussions in the Senate, would force ByteDance to divest its ownership, or face a ban on the app.

​Proponents of the bill argue that this is a narrowly targeted measure to address a clear national security threat, consistent with other restrictions on foreign ownership in areas like broadcast media. Critics, meanwhile, have raised First Amendment concerns, and argued that this is a slippery slope to target platforms like X or Truth Social.

To consider these questions, the Foundation for American Innovation and Young Voices invite you to a debate on the bill, with the following resolution: Given national security concerns, ByteDance should be forced to divest from TikTok or face a ban.

​Moderated by FAI senior fellow Evan Swarztrauber, with introductory remarks by Emma Ayers, Director of External Relations, Young Voices, this event is part of FAI's The Dynamist podcast debate series. Panelists include:

Pro-

• Michael Sobolik // Senior Fellow in Indo-Pacific Studies, American Foreign Policy Council
• ​Matt Stoller // Director of Research, American Economic Liberties Project

Anti-

• ​Jennifer Huddleston // Technology Policy Research Fellow, Cato Institute
• Mike Godwin // Principal Attorney, Godwin’s Law Consulting

​To attend in person, join us on Wednesday, April 24 at Nice & Easy at 1124 Congress St NE in Washington, DC. To catch the debate online, stay tuned and subscribe to FAI’s podcast, The Dynamist. 

This event is intended to comply with the widely-attended event exception of the congressional gift rules; executive branch officials should consult their gift rules and Designated Agency Ethics Officers regarding attendance.