TikTok Parent Spends Record on Lobbying as U.S. Pressure Rises

The Chinese owner of the popular TikTok video app spent a company record on federal lobbying in the second quarter as it fought allegations that it’s funneling Americans’ data to Beijing, according to lobbying disclosures filed with U.S. Congress.

Beijing-based ByteDance Ltd. spent $500,000 in the three months ended June 30, up from its previous record of $300,000 in the first quarter, according to the company’s lobbying disclosure Monday.

TikTok is responding to an onslaught of pressure from U.S. politicians over its Chinese roots -- tension that has escalated in third quarter, including calls by President Donald Trump to consider ...