TikTok Ban Edges Closer as House Passes Legislation
Nine-Month Deadline for ByteDance to Sell or Face Ban
Senate Vote Expected Soon
The House of Representatives has once again passed legislation that could potentially lead to a nationwide ban on the popular social media app TikTok. The bill, known as the "Averting the National Threat of Internet Surveillance, Oppressive Censorship and Influence, and Algorithmic Learning by the Chinese Communist Party Act" (ANTI-SOCIAL CCP Act), was approved by a vote of 323-94 on Wednesday, April 19, 2023.
The legislation gives TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, which is based in China, a nine-month deadline to sell or restructure its ownership. If the company fails to meet this deadline, TikTok could be banned from operating in the United States.
The bill now moves to the Senate, where it is expected to face a similar vote. If the Senate approves the bill, it would then need to be signed into law by President Joe Biden.
The move to ban TikTok comes amid growing concerns about the app's ties to the Chinese government. Critics argue that TikTok poses a national security risk, as it could be used to collect data on American users and spread propaganda.
TikTok has denied these claims, stating that it does not share user data with the Chinese government and that it operates independently of Beijing. However, the company has faced increasing pressure from U.S. officials, who have demanded that it address concerns about its security practices.
If the TikTok ban goes into effect, it would be a major blow to the company, which has over 100 million monthly active users in the United States.
However, it is important to note that the legislation could face legal challenges, and it is unclear how long it would take for a ban to actually go into effect. In addition, the Biden administration has not yet taken a position on the bill, and it is possible that the president could veto it if it passed both the House and Senate.
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