The US House of Representatives passed a bill on Wednesday targeting TikTok, which could lead to the app’s ban within the nation.
The bill mandates that ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, must divest its majority stake in the app within six months, or face a prohibition in the US. Despite the bipartisan support in the House, the bill’s future in the Senate remains uncertain, and it would also require President Joe Biden’s signature to become law.
ByteDance, established in 2012 and based in Beijing, is incorporated in the Cayman Islands and operates globally. The potential enactment of this bill into law could escalate tensions between the US and China, especially since ByteDance would need Chinese governmental approval for the forced sale—a move Beijing has pledged to contest. Foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin warned that such actions by the US would have repercussions.
Mike Gallagher, a Republican from Wisconsin and co-author of the bill, expressed concern over TikTok’s ties to the Chinese government, citing national security laws that could compel Chinese companies to surrender data to their government.
“The only reason I’m in this interview is because you’re on the X platform and you asked for it,” he remarked, emphasizing the risk posed by having a major American news platform under the influence of the Chinese Communist Party.
TikTok has attempted to allay fears by claiming to have secured its 150 million American users’ data from access by ByteDance employees in China. Shou Zi Chew, TikTok’s CEO, committed to data security and the platform’s independence from external influence. However, Chew cautioned that the bill’s passage would not only ban TikTok in the US but also endanger numerous American jobs and consolidate power among a few social media corporations.
Despite these assurances, skepticism remains. An investigation by the Wall Street Journal revealed that the data protection measures might not be foolproof, and there have been instances of ByteDance employees in China accessing US users’ data for internal purposes.
Hakeem Jeffries, the leading Democrat in the House, supported the bill, believing it would protect TikTok users’ data and privacy from foreign exploitation. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer indicated the Senate would examine the legislation closely. Yet, the bill faces opposition, including from former President Donald Trump, who previously attempted to ban TikTok but has since revised his stance after discussions with a stakeholder in ByteDance.
The bill has sparked debate among lawmakers, with some Republicans and Democrats voicing concerns over the implications for other companies and the potential alienation of TikTok’s young user base. Nevertheless, Senate intelligence committee leaders Mark Warner (Democrat) and Marco Rubio (Republican) have expressed their commitment to advancing the bill, citing unanimous concerns over TikTok’s national security threats.
In response to the House vote, TikTok mobilized its users to lobby Congress, a tactic that has previously resulted in an influx of calls to congressional offices, some staffers claim, solidifying opposition to TikTok.
Protests outside the White House underscored the app’s importance to various Americans, from content creators who depend on TikTok for their livelihoods to advocates like Tiffany Yu, who utilizes the platform for disability advocacy.
The Chinese foreign ministry labeled the US’s actions as unjust competition that undermines international economic norms, while the White House maintained the bill seeks to prevent critical technology platforms from being exploited by foreign adversaries.
The sale of TikTok, valued at approximately $268 billion, presents a significant financial and regulatory challenge, leaving the tech community and potential buyers weighing their options amid ongoing anti-monopoly concerns.
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Author: Nicholas Dolinger
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