TikTok Targets Senate After Ban By House of Representatives

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill with an overwhelming majority, giving TikTok’s Chinese owner ByteDance approximately six months to divest the U.S. assets of the short-video app or face a ban. This move represents the most significant threat to the app since the Trump administration.

The bill was passed with a vote of 352-65, enjoying bipartisan support. However, its future in the Senate remains uncertain, as some senators favor a different approach to regulating foreign-owned apps with security concerns. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stated that the Senate will review the legislation.

TikTok responded to the bill’s passage by informing its employees through a memo, emphasizing their commitment to educating the Senate about the potential impact of the legislation on the 170 million Americans who use the platform. TikTok reiterated its belief that transparent, US-based protection of US user data is the best approach to address national security concerns.

The fate of TikTok, which boasts approximately 170 million American users, has become a focal point in Washington. Lawmakers have reported receiving numerous calls from teenage TikTok users opposing the legislation. The volume of complaints has at times exceeded the number of calls seeking intervention in conflicts like the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

A TikTok spokesperson criticized the process, stating that the bill was pushed through secretly with the intention of banning the app.

The bill is part of a broader effort in Washington to address U.S. national security concerns related to China, spanning from connected vehicles to advanced artificial intelligence chips to operations at U.S. ports.

House Republican Steve Scalise emphasized the importance of the bill as a critical national security issue, urging the Senate to take it up and pass it.

Source: Reuters
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