TeamDML offers insights, opinions, podcasts, videos and other forms of content intended to educate and better explain trending news that is made available to the public by third parties. In this particular case, we refer to an excerpt from CBS News:
Washington — The House on Wednesday passed legislation that could ban TikTok in the U.S. if its Beijing-based parent company ByteDance doesn’t sell its stake in the massively popular social media platform.
The vote was 352 in favor and 65 opposed, underscoring its broad bipartisan support, with 197 Republicans and 155 Democrats voting to approve it. Fifteen Republicans and 50 Democrats voted against the bill. One Democrat voted “present.”
The House fast-tracked the legislation, known as the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, by bringing it up under a procedure that required the support of two-thirds of members for passage.
TikTok has long been criticized as a national security threat, due to ByteDance’s strong connections to the Chinese Communist Party.
CBS News explains that the bill would require ByteDance to sell TikTok within six months or be banned from U.S. app stores and web-hosting services.
The report also notes that China’s Ministry of Commerce said last year it would “firmly oppose” the forced sale of TikTok.
It will now be up to the Senate to take up the bill. If it passes in the Senate, Joe Biden has reportedly said he will sign it into law.
Fox Business explained in a separate report:
The bill, led by House China select committee Chair Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., and ranking member Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., would block TikTok in the U.S. if its parent company, Bytedance, does not divest from it within 165 days of passage. It would also require it to be bought by a country that is not a U.S. adversary.
BREAKING: The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act has passed the U.S. House of Representatives! pic.twitter.com/OhBb6sngFR
— Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (@committeeonccp) March 13, 2024
Rep. Gallagher spoke from the House floor Wednesday morning, ahead of the vote, and explained key facts about the bill. Watch below:
Chairman @RepGallagher floor speech in support of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.
“I also want to set the record straight on a few misconceptions about this bill:
It DOES NOT apply to American companies. It ONLY applies to… pic.twitter.com/urbFpD9VeN
— Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (@committeeonccp) March 13, 2024
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) announced earlier Wednesday morning, “Today, the House will be voting on @RepGallagher’s bill the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.
“This important bill is vital to protect our national security and ensure that the American people are not improperly targeted, surveilled, or influenced by a foreign adversary like Communist China through online applications like TikTok.”
Today, the House will be voting on @RepGallagher’s bill the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.
This important bill is vital to protect our national security and ensure that the American people are not improperly targeted, surveilled, or…
— Rep. Elise Stefanik (@RepStefanik) March 13, 2024
Despite the national security concerns, all conservatives were on board with the bill:
As the only member of Congress who has ever been banned from social media, I oppose today’s TikTok ban bill.
This bill would open Pandora’s box and create a slippery slope for future government censorship of Americans and our precious First Amendment. pic.twitter.com/I2jDTxjpjg
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) March 13, 2024
I’m currently on the floor managing the debate AGAINST the TikTok ban. This is my opening statement. Tune in to CSPAN live now for more. pic.twitter.com/yFqdYt4Pxd
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) March 13, 2024
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) had warned on Tuesday, “The so-called TikTok ban is a trojan horse. The President will be given the power to ban WEB SITES, not just Apps. The person breaking the new law is deemed to be the U.S. (or offshore) INTERNET HOSTING SERVICE or App Store, not the “foreign adversary.””
Former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy responded, “If you’re worried about Biden censoring the speech of his political opponents, it’s not a good idea to give him even greater executive authority to do more of it in the name of national security.”
If you’re worried about Biden censoring the speech of his political opponents, it’s not a good idea to give him even greater executive authority to do more of it in the name of national security. https://t.co/4V8s74PkLZ
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) March 13, 2024
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky) also voiced his opposition to the bill. He wrote:
Reactionaries who want to ban TikTok claim the data can’t be secured because the “algorithm” is in China. Not true.
The truth is the Algorithm runs in the U.S. in oracle cloud with their review of the code. (NOT in China).
Maybe we should examine the facts before committing violations of the 1st and 5th amendments.
They want to ban TikTok because it’s “owned by China”. Not true.
60% of the company is owned by US and international investors.
20% is owned by the company founders.
20% is owned by company employees, including over 7,000 Americans.
The CEO of TikTok is from Singapore, not China. So ask yourself why they keep repeating this lie to scare you?
2/2
They want to ban TikTok because it’s “owned by China”
Not true.
60% of the company is owned by US and international investors.
20% is owned by the company founders.
20% is owned by company employees, including over 7,000 Americans.
The CEO of TikTok is from…
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 13, 2024
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an Independent presidential candidate, released the following statement:
Every right the government has ever taken away was removed under the false pretense of national security. Remember that when members of Congress give Joe Biden the power to remove an app from your phone. Ironically, Joe Biden himself just joined TikTok! People love TikTok. It’s the digital public square.
If there are security concerns in the tech back-end, let’s address them there. But let’s never reduce Americans’ ability to freely exchange ideas. TikTok has become an avenue for young Americans to express themselves and join in the political discourse. In fact, my campaign found one of its key staffers on the platform.
President Biden enjoys censoring and silencing those who dare to question him – so it’s no surprise he supports banning TikTok. The First Amendment should not be disregarded for any reason. We should be encouraging more discourse instead of less. Americans can’t rely on the big three networks to give them fair information.
As President, I will fight for free speech and for Americans to have platforms with which to grow their businesses and express themselves.
Every right the government has ever taken away was removed under the false pretense of national security. Remember that when members of Congress give Joe Biden the power to remove an app from your phone. Ironically, Joe Biden himself just joined TikTok! People love TikTok. It’s…
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) March 13, 2024
BREAKING: The House passes a bill with bipartisan support that could ban TikTok in the U.S. It now heads to the Senate. https://t.co/Xlb3PumheW
— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 13, 2024
To get more information about this article, please visit CBS News. To weigh in, leave a comment below.
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