TikTok Ban Moves Forward as House Approves Bill
Bipartisan Legislation Gives Nine-Month Deadline to Sell or Shut Down
By MARY CLARE JALONICK and HALELUYA HADERO
WASHINGTON (AP) — The TikTok ban is moving forward after the House overwhelmingly approved a bill Saturday that could lead to the social media app being forced to sell or shut down in the United States within months. The bill now heads to the Senate, where its fate is uncertain.
The new directive comes from a growing concern among US lawmakers that the Chinese company ByteDance, which owns TikTok, could share user data with the Chinese government. TikTok has repeatedly denied these allegations, but they have not been enough to satisfy lawmakers.
The legislation provides a nine-month deadline for ByteDance to find a new owner for TikTok or face being shut down. It is unclear whether ByteDance will be able to find a buyer within that time frame, or whether it will be willing to sell TikTok at all.
The bill's passage marks a significant escalation in the US government's efforts to crack down on TikTok. In February 2023, the White House had told federal agencies to delete TikTok from government devices.
Supporters of the bill say it is necessary to protect national security. They argue that TikTok could be used to spread propaganda or collect intelligence on Americans.
Opponents of the bill say it is a dangerous precedent that could lead to the government censoring other social media apps. They also argue that TikTok is a valuable platform for Americans to express themselves and connect with others.
The bill's ultimate fate is uncertain. The Senate is expected to vote on the bill in the coming weeks, but it is unclear whether it will pass. Even if it does pass, President Biden would still need to sign it into law.
TikTok has said it is "disappointed" by the passage of the bill and that it is "confident that we can continue to operate in the US in a safe and secure manner."
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