MYTH: The RESTRICT Act criminalizes what you can say online. Fact: The RESTRICT Act is focused on foreign corporations, not on users. The 1st Amendment protects Americans’ right to share and receive information – and this bill doesn’t alter that.
The RESTRICT Act builds on a process – created under President Trump and supported by President Biden – that would allow the Secretary of Commerce to review certain transactions. What kind of transactions…?
The government is only able to review “covered transactions,” which means transactions involving a foreign adversary (China, Russia, Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea, Iran) or an entity based in those countries.
But it’s actually even more specific than that. The RESTRICT Act only has the power to mitigate extremely high risk actions – like sabotaging U.S. tech, catastrophically impacting infrastructure, or interfering in our federal elections.
Let me say it again: there are NO criminal penalties in this bill for your free speech – you’re even free to drag the RESTRICT Act if you want! I stand firmly with freedom of speech, and my bill doesn’t affect or influence what Americans can say in any way, shape or form.
This bill takes on big, systemic threats to our national security – not individual users.
MYTH: Senators don’t understand that people make their living on TikTok! Fact: I think there’s a lot of creativity happening on TikTok! I know influencers & other Americans rely on it. I’m also a former tech entrepreneur, and I wholeheartedly believe in the free marketplace.
But there’s a reason we’re all not on MySpace anymore – the internet adapts. I have total confidence that there will be apps out there that can facilitate the same communications as TikTok, without being beholden to an authoritarian, communist regime that endangers our security.
I also want to point out this legislation really isn’t unusual or overreaching on the global stage – plenty of countries have taken even more direct action against TikTok specifically.
TikTok is outright banned in India. It’s banned on government devices in Canada, the EU, the UK, Norway, New Zealand, and Belgium. We’re likely to see more countries follow suit soon.
Folks, I’m glad to engage in discussion about this bill and hear critiques. This bill is about protecting YOUR privacy from authoritarian nations and protecting Americans from foreign coercion. I’m proud of the bipartisan coalition we’ve built to get it done.
@MarkWarner Mark, I can't think of anyone better to be the lead here. Next, start limiting Chinese goods in America by increasing tariffs. We stopped the "Made in China" epidemic years ago. Let's do it again.
@MarkWarner This is to restrict AMERICANS. We need our government RESTRICTED
You're a traitor to this country... Stop pretending this is about China or TikTok. This is about you selling your soul to the devil that is the corporate spy state and a blatant attempt at criminalizing Americans for using VPN services. You're a corrupt con artist and everyone knows it.
@MarkWarner Correct. Only our authoritarian nation can violate our privacy and coerce us.
@MarkWarner Um no. It’s a power grab. Focus on ensuring @Apple and @Google allow us the ability to turn off the mic and camera on our phones to stop the spying with the hardware. Problem solved. You aren’t helping. You are hurting us further. Stop it! Stop taking away our liberties.
@MarkWarner You are lying to the people of the America. This is one of the worst power grab at our freedoms. This is a tyrannical bill and you will be stopped. 🚨 Learn why you should be absolutely be opposed to this horrible bill. americamission.substack.com/p/Americas-mis…