By NewsBlogger The US House of Representatives has approved a bill aimed at addressing national security concerns by potentially requiring TikTok’s parent company to sell a majority stake to a US-based company or face removal from American app stores, with the bill now set to be reviewed by the Senate.
At a glance
- US House approves bill to ban TikTok from US app stores potentially
- Bill requires ByteDance to sell an 80% stake to a US company or face removal
- Bill now under review by US Senate, uncertain passage due to Democratic majority
- Legislation attracts criticism and opposition from some lawmakers and former President Trump
- Efforts to address national security risks associated with Chinese ownership of TikTok intensify
The details
The US House of Representatives has recently approved a bill known as the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applicants Act, which could potentially lead to the banning of TikTok from US app stores.
The bill aims to address national security concerns and would allow federal law enforcement agencies to identify certain apps as national security threats if foreign adversaries control them.
If the bill is enacted into law, TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, must sell 80% of its stake to a US-based company within 180 days or face removal from American app stores.
The bill is now set to be reviewed by the US Senate for a vote, although its passage remains uncertain due to the Democratic majority.
Despite facing opposition from both parties in the House, some Republican Senators have expressed support for the bill.
President Joe Biden has indicated his willingness to sign the bill into law if it garners Senate approval.
Notably, the legislation has attracted criticism from various quarters.
Representatives Jim Himes and Marjorie Taylor Greene voted against the bill, while former President Donald Trump has voiced his opposition, arguing that it would benefit Meta platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
ByteDance has initiated a campaign to thwart the bill, urging TikTok users to contact their representatives in opposition.
In a related development, bipartisan legislation from the House of Representatives could compel TikTok to sell off a controlling share or face expulsion from US app stores.
Both President Biden and former President Trump have weighed in on the issue, with Biden signaling his support for the legislation.
The bill has garnered backing from the Biden administration’s Federal Communications Commission and has been prompted by concerns over TikTok’s alleged engagement in illicit surveillance and dissemination of false information.
Furthermore, the bill has been presented in response to fears that TikTok poses a national security risk, with federal law enforcement agencies and lawmakers from various political affiliations voicing apprehensions.
Several Republican-led states have already prohibited TikTok from government devices, highlighting the growing concern over the app’s operations.
Notably, TikTok has warned its users about potential repercussions if the legislation is enacted, while House Representatives Mike Gallagher and Raja Krishnamoorthi have called on the company to cease disseminating false claims.
The bill’s passage in the House of Representatives has intensified efforts to address national security risks associated with Chinese ownership of TikTok.
The legislation does not seek to ban the app outright but rather aims to end Chinese control of TikTok.
The bill’s approval underscores a broader movement in Washington to tackle national security threats emanating from China, and ByteDance’s compliance with the divestment mandate will be closely monitored.
In light of these developments, the fate of TikTok in the US hangs in the balance, with the bill’s potential implications sparking debates and legal considerations.
The proposed legislation underscores the complex interplay between national security concerns, foreign ownership of tech platforms, and regulatory oversight in the digital age.
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| independent.co.uk |
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| – The US House of Representatives approved a bill that could ban TikTok from US app stores – The bill is called the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary-Controlled Applicants Act. – The bill would allow federal law enforcement agencies to label certain apps as national security threats if foreign adversaries control them – If the bill becomes law, TikTok parent company ByteDance must sell 80% of its stake to a US company within 180 days or face removal from American app stores – The bill will now go to the US Senate for a vote – It is unclear if the bill will pass the Senate due to the Democratic majority, but some Republican Senators support it – President Joe Biden has expressed commitment to signing the bill into law if it passes the Senate – The bill has faced opposition from both parties in the House – Representative Jim Himes and Marjorie Taylor Greene voted against the bill – Former president Donald Trump opposes the bill, claiming it will benefit Meta platforms like Facebook and Instagram – ByteDance has launched a campaign to kill the bill, urging TikTok users to call their representatives – The bill was advanced by a House committee on a bipartisan vote of 50-0 earlier this month |
| independent.co.uk |
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| – Bipartisan legislation from the House of Representatives could force TikTok to sell off a controlling share or face removal from US app stores – President Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both weighed in on the issue, with Biden signaling he would sign the legislation into law – The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act would allow federal law enforcement agencies to list certain apps as national security threats – ByteDance would be compelled to sell all but 20% of its TikTok stake to a US-based company to continue operating in the US – The bill has support from the Biden administration’s Federal Communications Commission – TikTok has been accused of engaging in illicit surveillance and making false statements about personnel in Beijing accessing sensitive US user data – Federal law enforcement agencies and lawmakers from both parties have argued that TikTok presents a national security threat – Several Republican-led states have banned TikTok from government devices – A message on the app warned users that the US government could take away the community if the legislation passes – House Reps Mike Gallagher and Raja Krishnamoorthi demanded TikTok stop spreading false claims in its campaign to manipulate and mobilize American citizens on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party |
| independent.co.uk |
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| – The US House of Representatives passed a bill to ban TikTok in the US if its Chinese parent company ByteDance doesn’t sell – The bill was approved with bipartisan support due to concerns about national security threats – The bill will now be considered by the Senate and President Joe Biden – ByteDance will have six months to divest from TikTok if the bill is signed into law – The vote came after a week of the bill being proposed and little debate – Biden’s re-election campaign joined TikTok last month – The bill is part of a series of moves in Washington to address national security concerns about China – The goal is to end Chinese ownership of TikTok, not to ban the app – It is unclear if China would approve any sale of TikTok – If ByteDance fails to divest, app stores like Apple and Google could not legally offer TikTok – Former President Trump sought to ban TikTok and WeChat in 2020 – Any forced divestment of TikTok would likely face legal challenges |
