Averting the National Threat of Internet Surveillance, Oppressive Censorship and Influence, and Algorithmic Learning by the Chinese Communist Party Act
12/15/2023, 4:05 PMSummary of Bill S 347
Bill 118 s 347, also known as the Averting the National Threat of Internet Surveillance, Oppressive Censorship and Influence, and Algorithmic Learning by the Chinese Communist Party Act, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress aimed at addressing the growing concerns surrounding the influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on the internet.The bill seeks to prevent the CCP from using internet surveillance and censorship to control and manipulate information online. It also aims to protect American citizens from the potential threats posed by the CCP's algorithmic learning techniques, which can be used to influence public opinion and spread propaganda.
Key provisions of the bill include increased oversight and regulation of Chinese-owned internet companies operating in the US, as well as measures to strengthen cybersecurity and protect against foreign interference in American elections. The bill also calls for increased cooperation with US allies to combat the CCP's influence on the global internet. Overall, the Averting the National Threat of Internet Surveillance, Oppressive Censorship and Influence, and Algorithmic Learning by the Chinese Communist Party Act represents a bipartisan effort to address the growing threat posed by the CCP's activities online and protect American interests in the digital age.
Congressional Summary of S 347
Averting the National Threat of Internet Surveillance, Oppressive Censorship and Influence, and Algorithmic Learning by the Chinese Communist Party Act or the ANTI-SOCIAL CCP Act
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 20% 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.
