The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that could result in the ban of TikTok in America, sparking concerns and discussions among netizens and lawmakers alike. The bill requires ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to divest its controlling stake within six months. Failure to comply would result in the app’s blocking in the US.
The bipartisan bill garnered overwhelming support in the House but still needs to pass the Senate and gain presidential approval to become law. The primary reason behind the move is the fear that ByteDance could be compelled by the Chinese government to hand over data of millions of US users, raising national security concerns.
Lawmakers from both major US parties introduced the bill, highlighting their worries about China’s potential influence over TikTok, a popular social media platform with a significant user base in the US. The company’s headquarters in Beijing and its registration in the Cayman Islands have also drawn scrutiny.
President Joe Biden has indicated his willingness to sign the bill if it clears the Senate, which could lead to diplomatic tensions with China. However, ByteDance’s forced divestiture would require approval from Chinese officials, a move that Beijing has vowed to oppose.
Wisconsin Republican Mike Gallagher, a co-author of the bill, emphasized the risk of having a major social media platform controlled by a company tied to the Chinese Communist Party. TikTok has previously assured the safety of US user data, but concerns persist following reports of data sharing between TikTok in the US and ByteDance in China.
The House vote was praised by leaders of the Senate intelligence committee, who expressed shared concerns about TikTok’s national security threat. Mark Warner, a Democrat, and Marco Rubio, a Republican, issued a joint statement highlighting the platform’s potential to influence and divide Americans, especially given ByteDance’s ties to the Chinese government.
Sources By Agencies
