On Wednesday, the US House of Representatives decisively approved a bill with bipartisan support that could potentially result in the prohibition of the widely-used social media platform TikTok. This pivotal decision, which could affect the 170 million Americans who utilize the app monthly, now awaits deliberation in the Senate, where certain lawmakers are committed to impeding the legislation's swift passage.
President Joe Biden, ultimately tasked with the final decision, has affirmed his intention to endorse the bill once it reaches his desk.
The legislation secured a resounding 352 votes in favor, with only 65 opposing and one marked as present during the House session.
The bill's introduction was spearheaded by the bipartisan tandem of Republican Mike Gallagher and Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi, who respectively lead the select committee on China as chair and ranking member.
Chair of the House Commerce Committee, Republican Cathy McMorris Rodgers, emphasized, "Today we send a clear message that we will not tolerate our adversaries weaponizing our freedoms against us," in support of the TikTok bill's advancement.
Crucially, the legislation mandates TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, headquartered in China and allegedly linked to the Chinese government, to divest its ownership within 180 days of the law's enactment.
Failure to comply with this deadline would result in TikTok being removed from Apple and Google app stores.
Despite a fervent campaign from TikTok, mobilizing its user base and influencers against the legislation, the bill gained traction. Notably, former President Donald Trump, who had previously entertained discussions with an American TikTok investor, reversed his stance and opposed any efforts to ban the app, citing potential reinforcement of competitors like Facebook. However, Trump refrained from directly lobbying lawmakers, a tactic he had employed in previous instances to thwart undesirable legislative measures.
TikTok's association with the Chinese government has raised concerns about national security, with lawmakers and officials highlighting the potential for Beijing to access Americans' data through the app.
In response, TikTok has maintained that American user data is stored within the US.
Raja Krishnamoorthi underscored the bill's bipartisan nature, stating, "So long as it is owned by ByteDance and thus required to collaborate with the CCP (Chinese Communist Party), TikTok poses critical threats to our national security." He emphasized the necessity of safeguarding American social media users from potential surveillance and influence operations conducted by foreign adversaries.
Although the bill secured bipartisan support and cleared the Commerce Committee with a unanimous 50-0 vote, its journey through the Senate may encounter obstacles.
Republican Senator Rand Paul has pledged to impede efforts for expedited approval of the bill, echoing concerns expressed by other Senators across party lines. These concerns range from TikTok's popularity among young Americans, particularly in an election year, to apprehensions regarding the precedent set by targeting specific companies and platforms for potential bans.
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