The US House of Representatives passed a bill on Wednesday urging TikTok to divest from its Chinese owner or face a ban in the United States. Amid bipartisan concerns about TikTok’s Chinese ownership, the legislation received overwhelming support, raising questions about the app’s potential affiliation with the Communist Party in Beijing.
While the bill’s fate in the Senate remains uncertain, President Joe Biden has indicated readiness to sign it into law. The “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act” mandates ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to divest the app within 180 days or risk removal from US app stores.
TikTok executives expressed surprise at the renewed pressure from Washington, with CEO Shou Zi Chew actively lobbying against the bill. Meanwhile, Michael Beckerman, TikTok’s VP for public policy, raised constitutional concerns about the rushed legislative process.
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Sponsored by House Republican Mike Gallagher and House Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi, the bill aims to address national security threats without imposing a ban on TikTok, provided it separates from ByteDance. However, China has warned of potential consequences for US actions, criticizing the bill as “bullying behavior.”
Republican lawmakers supported the bill, marking a departure from their previous alignment with Donald Trump, who recently opposed a TikTok ban. Despite Trump’s shift in stance, concerns linger about the bill’s prospects in the Senate, with Representative Nancy Mace expressing skepticism.
Efforts to ban TikTok have faced legal challenges, citing free speech concerns. Despite TikTok’s reassurances regarding data privacy, suspicions persist about its alleged ties to the Chinese government.
