The United States House of Representatives has approved legislation that could lead to the banning of TikTok if its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, fails to sell its stake in the social media platform. The bipartisan vote, with 352 in favor and 65 opposed, underscores broad support for the measure.
The bill, known as the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, passed under a procedure requiring two-thirds support and now heads to the Senate. President Biden has indicated his intention to sign it into law, setting a six-month deadline for ByteDance to divest from TikTok or face a ban from U.S. app stores and web-hosting services.
TikTok has faced scrutiny over concerns that the Chinese government could access data of its 170 million American users. FBI Director Christopher Wray emphasized the potential risks, stating, “Americans need to ask themselves whether they want to give the Chinese government the ability to control access to their data.”
While TikTok has denied these allegations, a spokesperson for the company criticized the bill’s passage, calling it a rushed process. China has also opposed the forced sale of TikTok, accusing the U.S. of launching a disinformation campaign.
However, the fate of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain, as previous attempts to ban it have faced legal challenges and free speech concerns. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has not committed to bringing the bill to the Senate floor, and some senators question its constitutionality.
Despite these challenges, supporters of the bill hope for a strong message to the Senate. Rep. Mike Gallagher, who introduced the legislation, stressed its importance in regulating conduct rather than content. Bipartisan efforts and classified briefings have informed lawmakers’ decisions, but the bill’s future remains unclear as it moves through the legislative process.
Source: CBS
