Bill Overview
Title: ANTI-SOCIAL CCP Act
Description: This bill requires the President to impose property-blocking sanctions on TikTok, its parent company ByteDance Ltd., and larger social media companies with ties to certain foreign countries. Specifically, the sanctions shall apply if the relevant property interests are (1) in the United States; or (2) in the possession or control of a U.S. person, if blocking the transaction is necessary to prevent the company's commercial operation in the United States. These sanctions shall also apply to larger social media companies involved with countries or persons (entities or individuals) of concern, generally defined as any foreign government or person engaged in activities adverse to U.S. security and safety and includes specific countries such as China, Russia, and North Korea. For the purposes of this bill, a person of concern also includes private companies and individuals domiciled in a country of concern and subject to the substantial influence of the government. Specifically, in addition to TikTok and ByteDance, the sanctions shall apply to any social media company that is based in or organized under the laws of a country of concern; where a country or person of concern owns 10% of its outstanding voting stock or shares; that uses software or algorithms controlled by a country or person of concern, including through export controls; or where a country or person of concern has substantial influence over the company's data sharing or content moderation practices.
Sponsors: Rep. Gallagher, Mike [R-WI-8]
Target Audience
Population: People using social media platforms associated with a country of concern
Estimated Size: 150000000
- The bill targets TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, which are well-known to have a significant global user base.
- TikTok has over 1 billion active users worldwide, including people from various demographics.
- The United States itself has around 150 million TikTok users as of early 2023, indicating a substantial impact domestically.
- The bill mentions 'larger social media companies with ties to certain foreign countries,' which could potentially impact other platforms with international ties, widening the affected population.
- Countries of concern include China, Russia, and North Korea, or companies with ties or influence from these countries.
- The sanctions will affect not just users but employees and stakeholders of companies falling under its scope, potentially numbering in the millions globally.
Reasoning
- The policy potentially affects a diverse range of people, including social media users, influencers, content creators, and employees of companies involved with or using technology from countries of concern.
- Consideration must be given to individuals who may not be directly affected but belong to communities where these platforms are prominent for social influence or business.
- The demographic profile of TikTok users is broad, but younger individuals may be impacted most, given the platform's popularity among younger generations.
- Potential economic impacts include American employees and stakeholders in affected companies.
- Communities that rely on these platforms for communication with international families or for business-related communication may face disruptions.
- The budgetary restrictions imply the need to prioritize monitoring and enforcement efforts within the U.S., likely focused on large-scale entities rather than individual users.
- Potential disruptions could be temporary as companies might find workarounds or alternatives, modifying the extent and duration of impacts.
Simulated Interviews
Content creator (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I rely on TikTok for my career, and these sanctions could severely impact my income source if creators like me are unable to access the platform.
- I understand the need for security, but I hope there's a way to ensure creators aren't put at a massive disadvantage.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 9 |
Software engineer (New York, NY)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could create uncertainty about my company's future if it's perceived as influential by China.
- I support national security efforts but also worry about my career stability if the company faces sanctions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 8 |
Marketing executive (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- TikTok has been a valuable platform for reaching our target audience, and these sanctions could force a major strategic pivot.
- I'm concerned about how to maintain business growth without key social media channels.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Student (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 18 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Losing TikTok would mean losing a major way of connecting with friends and new trends.
- I'm worried this will limit my sense of belonging and affect social interactions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 3 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Small business owner (Chicago, IL)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- TikTok has helped expand my business reach globally; losing it would be a setback.
- I hope there are measures to support small businesses transitioning away from affected platforms.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 9 |
Retiree (Houston, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I enjoy TikTok for entertainment, but my life wouldn't change much without it.
- Concern for national security is important, and I can adapt to other platforms if needed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Data analyst (Seattle, WA)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Losing access to TikTok data could impact my job as it's a significant source for the analytics we do.
- I'm worried about job performance and having to find new data sources quickly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Freelancer (Miami, FL)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My freelance business could suffer if I lose a significant platform like TikTok.
- Need to diversify my client strategies to avoid relying on one platform.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Educational consultant (Denver, CO)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- TikTok has helped me broaden educational influence and connect with students.
- I'd need new ways to reach audiences without it, but I'm adaptable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Investor (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The sanctions might affect tech stock performances, impacting my investment returns.
- I understand the motivation but worry about the market stability and my portfolio.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $150000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $180000000)
Year 2: $100000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $120000000)
Year 3: $80000000 (Low: $60000000, High: $100000000)
Year 5: $60000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $80000000)
Year 10: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $70000000)
Year 100: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $70000000)
Key Considerations
- Ensuring compliance with sanctions may require substantial administrative resources.
- Possible negative reactions from countries affected by the sanctions could influence international relations.
- Economic impact on U.S. users and businesses reliant on TikTok and similar platforms needs consideration.