US House Panel Approves Bill That Could Force TikTok Sale or Ban

US House Panel Approves Bill Potentially Forcing TikTok Sale or Ban Over National Security Concerns

The US House panel has approved a bill that could potentially force the parent company of TikTok, based in China, to sell the app within six months or face a ban. The bill, supported by the White House and introduced by a House committee, cites national security concerns. TikTok argues that the proposed legislation would impact free speech and harm small businesses relying on the platform. The company has encouraged its users to call Congress members to express opposition, resulting in overwhelmed phone lines and calls from teenagers.

The bill, proposed by a bipartisan group known as the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, was unanimously approved by the Energy and Commerce Committee. It is set to go for a full House floor vote, and if passed, the Senate would need to approve it before becoming law. The bill specifically targets ByteDance, TikTok’s owner, alleging links with the Chinese Communist Party, which ByteDance and TikTok deny.

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The legislation aims to “protect the national security of the United States from the threat posed by foreign adversary controlled applications.” Lawmakers claim that TikTok’s parent company collaborates with China’s political leadership, posing “critical threats to our national security.” The bill’s supporters argue that it doesn’t amount to an outright ban but provides ByteDance with about six months to comply.

TikTok, however, perceives the move as an outright ban and claims it would infringe on the First Amendment rights of its users and impact small businesses. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) also criticizes the bill, characterizing it as an attempt to score “cheap political points” during an election year and highlighting the app’s importance for information and communication.

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This proposed legislation is the latest in a series of attempts by US lawmakers to regulate TikTok, with the app already banned on government devices, although President Biden’s re-election campaign maintains an account. Previous attempts by former President Trump to ban TikTok faced legal challenges and never came into effect.

Source: BBC News

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