House lawmakers have taken a major step in their efforts to impose restrictions on TikTok, a popular video-sharing platform. They have advanced a bill that would require the company to be sold or face a national ban, as part of a broader aid package for Israel and Ukraine. This move has renewed pressure on the Senate to take action on the issue.
The bill’s advancement might expedite its path through Congress, where negotiations had previously slowed following an earlier attempt passed through the House. With growing support in the Senate, it is now more likely than ever that this legislation will become law. This represents a significant threat to TikTok’s operations in the United States, as the app is used by approximately 170 million Americans.
Lawmakers argue that TikTok poses a national security risk due to its China-based parent company, ByteDance. They claim that the app is used to surveil and exploit American personal information. The House voted 360-58 in favor of the legislation, which authorizes new penalties once morest Russia and Iran and requires TikTok to divest from ByteDance or face a prohibition. This legislation has broad bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress.
President Biden has expressed his support for the TikTok bill and has endorsed the House foreign aid package. He urged the House to pass the package this week and called on the Senate to quickly follow suit. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer stated that the Senate plans to take up the matter on Tuesday.
Under the updated version of the bill, ByteDance would have up to 360 days to divest TikTok. If it fails to do so during that time, the app would be effectively banned nationwide. The bill explicitly targets TikTok and ByteDance but also gives the president the power to impose a similar ultimatum on other apps controlled by foreign adversaries.
The proposed ban has faced opposition from TikTok, who argue that it infringes on free speech rights