TikTok Lobbies to Save Itself — Again

What’s happening: The House will vote this week on a bipartisan bill that would ban TikTok if it doesn’t separate from its China-owned parent company. China has sworn not to let go of TikTok, so the bill would effectively spell the end of the app in the U.S.

• Catch up: Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle argue the app’s ties to China present national security and data privacy risks. They also claim a prevalence of antisemitic and pro-terrorism content.

First try failed: Lawmakers, President Joe Biden, and most American voters were strongly in favor of a ban last year. Legislation failed to pass, however, after TikTok spent millions in Washington, hired an impressive cohort of lobbyists that included former lawmakers, and personally met with some in Congress.

Why it matters: The American public saw its elected representatives berating TikTok’s CEO in tense hearings and with angry letters. But behind the scenes, the company has bought enough influence to survive. The latest proposed legislation, which Biden has promised to sign, serves as another test of whether TikTok’s corporate lobbying power will keep it alive.

Getting creative: TikTok notified users about the potential ban last week, inspiring a flood of phone calls to elected officials in protest. This may have backfired as lawmakers rebuked TikTok’s “propaganda campaign” and unanimously passed the bill through a House committee.

• Americans are split: Voter support for banning the app has declined in recent months to 31 percent, versus 35 percent opposing a ban, and 31 percent with no opinion. It remains to be seen whether TikTok’s influence will prevail as Congress takes up the legislation on Wednesday.