The TikTok Ban Debate: National Security vs. First Amendment.

Despite the Republican tilt of Thursday’s hearing, Democrats remain far from united about what to do with TikTok. While some powerful senators push for aggressive action, some of the more tech-savvy Democrats are calling for restraint when it comes to a ban. They’re instead pushing solutions that would also address the privacy and security risks posed by U.S.-based apps. The Democrats’ divide might not matter in terms of legislation passed by the House, where Republicans hold the majority. But a fracture on TikTok complicates efforts to present a united front against China, and could provide cover for the small number of influential Senate Democrats who are less gung-ho about a ban.