The US House of Representatives is set to fast-track a vote on legislation requiring ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, to divest from the app within six months or face a potential ban in the US.
Despite TikTok’s assurances that it will not share US user data with China’s government, the company contends that the legislation effectively equates to a prohibition, questioning the feasibility of a divestiture within the allotted timeframe and China’s potential approval of such a sale. Currently, there are roughly 170 million TikTok users in the United States.
Reuters reported that the bill’s passage has sparked debate, with TikTok arguing it infringes on Americans’ constitutional rights to free expression, potentially harming businesses and creators nationwide. Before the vote, lawmakers received a classified briefing on national security issues related to TikTok’s Chinese ownership.
Representatives Frank Pallone, Mike Gallagher, and Raja Krishnamoorthi have spearheaded efforts to legislate against the national security risks of Chinese control over TikTok. Gallagher emphasizes that the legislation is not a ban but a strategic move to safeguard the platform’s future in the US.
The legislative proposal has triggered a wave of calls to Capitol Hill from TikTok users, prompted by the app’s warnings of a possible ban. TikTok has questioned lawmakers’ annoyance at receiving constituent feedback, highlighting the essence of their roles.
The bill’s implications extend beyond TikTok, potentially affecting other foreign-owned applications, though specific future targets remain undiscussed. Under the bill, ByteDance faces a 165-day deadline to divest TikTok, failing which app stores would be prohibited from offering TikTok or hosting ByteDance applications.
The White House and the Commerce Secretary have endorsed the bill, calling for a bipartisan effort to tackle the security threats from foreign-owned apps, including TikTok. However, achieving consensus in an election year remains challenging, evidenced by President Biden’s campaign’s recent engagement with TikTok.
Senator Mark Warner has raised concerns about the bill’s constitutionality, notably despite the urgent need to strengthen legal grounds for addressing TikTok’s operations in the US. Previous attempts to ban the app faced legal hurdles, illustrating the complex balance between national security and free speech rights.
