Critics say the Chinese government could force video-sharing apps to share U.S. users' data and spread propaganda.
Amid widespread claims that TikTok could be used to spy on Americans or manipulate public opinion, U.S. lawmakers are moving forward with a proposal to ban TikTok unless it cuts ties with its Chinese parent company.
A U.S. House of Representatives committee voted 50-0 Thursday to pass the bill, raising the possibility of a full vote in the near future.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said on the X show that he will bring “significant national security legislation” to the House floor for a vote next week.
The bill, introduced by Republican Mike Gallagher, would give Beijing-based ByteDance about six months to sell or face a ban.
The latest moves to restrict TikTok come after former President Donald Trump's efforts to ban the app in 2020 were blocked by a court.
🚨 @House Commerce The committee recently voted 50-0 to force TikTok to sever ties with the Chinese Communist Party. Next week, I will bring this important national security bill to the House floor for a vote.
— Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) March 7, 2024
Critics of TikTok say the Chinese government could force the platform to share data about U.S. users, potentially spreading propaganda and misinformation.
TikTok denies sharing personal data with the Chinese government and insists it will refuse any requests if asked.
TikTok said in a statement that “the government is attempting to strip 170 million Americans of their constitutional right to free expression,” as supporters of the bill seek a preordained outcome of a blanket ban. I accused him of being there.
“This will harm millions of businesses, deny audiences to artists, and destroy the livelihoods of countless creators across the country.”
Gallagher dismissed the idea of banning the platform completely, saying it could continue to operate in the U.S. “if there is a separation.”
“This is not a prohibition. Think of it as a surgery aimed at removing the tumor and thereby saving the patient,” he says.
Despite concerns about TikTok on both sides of the aisle, the bill's prospects for passage are uncertain.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson supports the bill, and Democratic President Joe Biden's administration is pushing the proposal widely, saying it “still needs some work” to gain support. You are welcome.
In November, a judge blocked Montana from implementing its first ban on TikTok, saying it violated users' free speech rights.