In a decisive move reflecting rare bipartisan unity, the US House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bill on Wednesday that could compel ByteDance, the Chinese owner of TikTok, to divest its stake in the popular video-sharing app or face a ban in the United States.
With a vote of 352 in favor and 65 against, the proposed law garnered significant support, signaling growing concerns over TikTok’s Chinese ownership and its potential implications for national security. This legislation marks a significant challenge for TikTok, which has garnered immense popularity worldwide but has also faced scrutiny over its ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
While the fate of the bill remains uncertain in the Senate, where key figures have expressed reservations about such a drastic move against an app with 170 million US users, President Joe Biden has signaled his intention to sign the bill into law if it reaches his desk.
Officially known as the “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act,” the measure mandates ByteDance to divest TikTok within 180 days or risk its removal from major app stores operated by Apple and Google in the US. Additionally, it grants the president authority to identify other applications deemed a national security threat if controlled by countries adversarial to the US.
The resurgence of scrutiny against TikTok has come as a surprise to the company, with executives reportedly reassured when President Biden joined the platform last month as part of his reelection campaign efforts. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is currently in Washington, lobbying to halt the bill’s progression.
Responding to the swift legislative action, TikTok’s vice president for public policy, Michael Beckerman, raised concerns about the constitutional implications of the bill, denouncing its expedited process without public hearings.
In an unexpected turn, Republican lawmakers defied former President Donald Trump, who previously sought to control TikTok during his presidency but faced legal obstacles. Trump’s recent opposition to a ban was attributed to concerns that it would benefit Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, which he referred to as an “enemy of the people.”
While the bill faces skepticism in the Senate, with Representative Nancy Mace, a Trump ally, predicting its demise, the debate over TikTok’s future underscores broader tensions between the US and China over technology and national security.
Despite TikTok’s efforts to distance itself from the Chinese government and ensure the data of US users remains within the country, the app continues to face intense scrutiny and regulatory challenges as lawmakers grapple with balancing security concerns and free speech considerations.
Sources By Agencies
