The US House of Representatives passed a bill banning the Chinese technology company Tik Tok by a majority, after which if Tik Tok does not separate from the Chinese company within 6 months, it will be banned in the United States.
According to the news agency AFP, on the occasion of voting in the US House of Representatives, unity was seen contrary to the tradition, where the representatives in the House voted 352 in support of the bill and only 65 members voted against it.
The legislation is a major blow to TikTok, which has grown in popularity over the past few years but has been repeatedly criticized by Western countries for being owned by the Chinese video-sharing company and heavily influenced by China’s Communist Party. have expressed their concerns.
The future of the bill remains in question as the bill needs to be approved by the Senate after Congress to be enacted, but critics have criticized the decision as being so harsh against such an application. How can a step be taken that has 17 million followers in the US alone?
A statement from the White House said that if the bill reaches President Joe Biden’s desk, he will sign it into law under the ‘Protecting Americans from Foreign-Controlled Applications Act’. .
Under this bill, TikTok’s parent company (main company) ‘ByteDance‘ will have to sell the application within 180 days, otherwise it will be banned from the Apple and Google Play stores in the US.
Under this act, the President has the power to declare any application run by an anti-US country as a threat to national security.
The bill regarding the ban comes as a surprise to TikTok because US President Joe Biden joined TikTok last month as part of his presidential campaign, according to the Wall Street Journal.
TikTok Chief Executive Officer Xu Zhiqiu is in Washington these days trying to garner support to block the bill.
Michael Beckerman, TikTok’s vice president of public policy, criticized the bill, saying the latest law was passed with unprecedented speed without a public hearing where it raises serious constitutional concerns.
The White House, along with co-sponsors and House Reps. Mike Gallagher, a Republican, and Rep. Raja Krishnamurthy, a Democrat, said the bill would not ban TikTok, just require the company to disassociate from the byte dance.
China warned on Wednesday that the move would backfire on the US.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin condemned it, saying that the US has never found evidence that Tik Tok poses a threat to US national security, but despite this, they have not stopped suppressing Tik Tok.
Amidst all this, Donald Trump reversed his earlier stance on Monday, saying he was against the ban, mainly because it would strengthen Instagram and Facebook owner Metta, which he already publicly claims. They have been declared enemies.
It is also worth mentioning here that when Trump was the US President, he tried to take control of Tik Tok from Byte Dance, but the US courts stopped him from doing this.
Meanwhile, there are also rumors that Trump changed his stance because hedge funder Jeff Yass, a major investor in TikTok, is actually donating to Trump’s 2024 campaign, but Trump has denied the allegations.
“I think this bill will die in the Senate, it’s not our job,” said Rep. Nancy Mays, a Trump ally.
On the other hand, the statement from the company said that TikTok strongly denies any ties with the Chinese government and has restructured the company so that the data of US users remains in the country.
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**Interview with Michael Beckerman, TikTok Vice President of Public Policy**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Michael. The US House recently passed a bill that could lead to a ban on TikTok unless it separates from its parent company, ByteDance, within six months. How does TikTok view this recent development?
**Michael Beckerman:** Thank you for having me. This bill is indeed concerning. We believe TikTok plays a crucial role in connecting creators, businesses, and communities across the United States. A ban would not only impact millions of American users who rely on our platform but also set a troubling precedent for how foreign-owned tech companies are treated in the country.
**Editor:** The bill passed with a significant majority—352 to 65. What do you make of the bipartisan support for this legislation?
**Michael Beckerman:** While it’s notable that both parties came together on this issue, we’re worried that this unity is based on fear rather than facts. Our focus should be on addressing legitimate concerns around data security through dialogue, transparency, and proper regulations rather than outright bans that could alienate a thriving app used by over 17 million Americans.
**Editor:** There are concerns about national security and TikTok’s ties to the Chinese government. How does TikTok address these issues?
**Michael Beckerman:** We understand the concerns, and that’s why we’ve taken significant steps to ensure our users’ data is secure. For instance, we’ve dedicated resources to establish data centers in the US and have increased transparency regarding how data is handled. We want to stress that TikTok is a platform for creativity and connection, and we continue to engage with policymakers to address any specific security concerns.
**Editor:** The White House has indicated that President Biden will sign this bill if it reaches his desk. What’s your strategy moving forward with this legislation in play?
**Michael Beckerman:** Our immediate focus is on advocacy. Our CEO, Xu Zhiqiu, is currently in Washington to engage with lawmakers, and we will continue to work hard to share our position and the implications of this legislation. We hope to demonstrate our commitment to being part of the solution in terms of data security and user privacy. It’s important that the conversations continue in a constructive manner.
**Editor:** Some critics argue that banning an app with such a vast user base could be harmful. What are your thoughts on that perspective?
**Michael Beckerman:** Absolutely, a ban would have far-reaching consequences. TikTok is a vital tool for many Americans, whether for small businesses seeking to reach new customers or for creators sharing their artistic expressions. We believe it’s possible to address national security concerns without resorting to bans that could harm American users and businesses.
**Editor:** Thank you, Michael, for sharing your insights on this important issue. We’ll be following the progress of the bill closely.
**Michael Beckerman:** Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this matter. We appreciate the engagement and hope for a resolution that prioritizes both security and the voices of millions of American TikTok users.
