TikTok influencers head to Washington DC to protest app ban, company pays for trip
The coming week could either make or break TikTok's US business. A group of influencers will campaign on behalf of TikTok in the nation's capital as the CEO of the app gets ready to testify before Congress.
A new report claims that the app will pay for the travel fees of dozens of TikTok influencers. They will spend three days in Washington lobbying for the platform that supports each of their individual careers. Although the identities of the influencers who are traveling have not yet been disclosed, the group is anticipated to hold a news conference on March 22.
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What does TikTok's spokesperson say?
TikTok spokesperson Jamal Brown said, “Lawmakers in Washington debating TikTok should hear firsthand from people whose lives would be directly affected by their decisions.”
He added that they look forward to welcoming their creators to the nation’s capital, helping them make their voices heard, and continuing to drive meaningful impact in their lives and for their communities.
After the creator press conference, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will visit Capitol Hill the next day. Chew aims to discourage Congress from passing one of the numerous proposed laws that would outlaw TikTok in the United States by appearing before the House Energy and Commerce Committee (HECC). One such bill is the RESTRICT Act, which was recently presented by a bipartisan group of senators.
Is TikTok really unstoppable?
Another group of former employees is causing TikTok new kinds of problems. Four employees who admitted to tracking journalists using their user data were let go by the app in December. The American Justice Department has taken notice of that initiative, known as Operation Raven. The scope of Project Raven will be the subject of an investigation.
Some of the unfavorable news might be offset by the existence of pro-TikTok influencers in Washington, DC. Even though they are unable to address the veracity of prospective security issues, TikTok's founders might manage to convince regulators of the app's benefits. Their lobbying, which is a component of a TikTok charm offensive, may influence President Biden, who must approve any Congressional bans. So far, the POTUS has expressed his support for TikTok and its user base.
