In a significant move, the United States House of Representatives voted 360 to 58 in favour of a revised divest-or-ban legislation targeting the TikTok ban. If passed by the US Senate and signed by President Joe Biden, this bill could mark a historical milestone as the first instance of the US government enacting a law to shut down an entire social media platform.
The Senate is expected to cast its vote on the bill in the upcoming week, and President Biden has previously indicated that if passed, he will sign the legislation into law.
The bill’s author, Texas Republican Representative Michael McCaul, emphasized that the move aims to protect Americans, particularly children, from what he termed as the “malign influence of Chinese propaganda” through the app TikTok.
“This bill protects Americans and especially America’s children from the malign influence of Chinese propaganda on the app TikTok. This app is a spy balloon in Americans’ phones,” said Michael McCaul.
The bill’s passage comes after a call from Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell in March to revise certain provisions. The updated legislation extends the divestment period for TikTok’s parent company ByteDance from six months to a year.
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“Extending the divestment period is necessary to ensure there is enough time for a new buyer to get a deal done. I support this updated legislation,” Cantwell stated.
Amid the TikTok Ban, company is likely to remove a key executive, Erich Andersen, tasked with addressing US government apprehensions regarding its ties to China. Andersen, the US-based general counsel for TikTok and ByteDance, has been engaged in discussions with US authorities to demonstrate the app’s measures to safeguard American users’ data and prevent undue influence from China. However, these efforts have fallen short, leading to the passing of the revised bill.
Critics have raised concerns over TikTok’s potential to collect user data and censor content critical of the Chinese government. However, TikTok has vehemently denied these allegations, asserting its independence and commitment to user privacy.
TikTok Ban: Company Reacts
In response to the bill’s passage, TikTok criticized the infringement on free speech rights, highlighting its substantial contribution to the US economy. TikTok ban is not the solution to the problems faced by the US Citizens.
“Unfortunately, the House of Representatives is using the cover of important foreign and humanitarian assistance to once again jam through a ban bill that would trample the free speech rights of 170 million Americans,” NPR reported TikTok’s statement.
Industry voices have also expressed concern, with Meredith Whittaker, president of US-based encrypted messaging service Signal, condemning the bill and its potential implications for data privacy and surveillance powers.
TikTok Ban and the Bill
The bill’s quick path through Congress is notable as it targets one company and reflects widespread concerns from lawmakers about Chinese threats to the US. Critics argue that the bill could deprive TikTok’s millions of US users of their First Amendment rights. Hence TikTok ban is not a welcome move.
The company has indicated that it would likely go to court to try and block the law if it passes. TikTok has lobbied hard against the legislation, pushing its users to call Congress and voice opposition. However, the bill was passed with the complete majority.
The passage of this bill raises questions about the future of TikTok in the US and highlights the growing scrutiny of Chinese-owned tech companies operating in the country.
