Washington, DC – The House passed a bill on Saturday to ban TikTok in the United States if the Chinese-based owner does not sell its stake within a year, as part of a larger foreign aid package. This fast-tracked decision has raised national security concerns about the app’s owner, Chinese technology firm ByteDance Ltd.
The bipartisan bill was passed by a 360-58 vote and is now headed to the Senate after negotiations extended the selling deadline to nine months, with a possible three-month extension if a sale is in progress. TikTok has lobbied against the legislation, urging its 170 million U.S. users to voice their opposition to Congress.
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are concerned about Chinese threats to the U.S., leading to the quick action on the bill targeting one company. This stands out as Congress has historically taken a hands-off approach to tech regulation. The concerns stem from worries that Chinese authorities could manipulate TikTok content to serve their interests.
Despite the lack of evidence showing TikTok sharing U.S. user data with China, legal challenges may prolong the process. The company has previously succeeded in legal battles to operate in the U.S., challenging bans at the state and federal level.
Supporters of TikTok argue that the ban would infringe on the First Amendment rights of millions of Americans who use the platform for self-expression and access to information. The company has also launched TV ads opposing the legislation and encouraged users to contact Congress to voice their opinions.
Critics of the ban, including some lawmakers, believe there could have been less restrictive measures to address national security concerns without resorting to a total ban. Content creators on TikTok, like Nadya Okamoto, fear the impact the legislation will have on their livelihoods, with many relying on the platform for income.
Concerns continue to mount about the future of TikTok in the U.S. as the bill progresses in Congress, highlighting the ongoing debate surrounding the regulation of social media platforms with ties to foreign entities.