By Aaron Miller-
The US House of Representatives has approved a bill targeting the popular social media app TikTok, a move that could potentially lead to a nationwide ban.
The bill demands that ByteDance, the Chinese tech giant behind TikTok, divest its stake in the app within six months or face expulsion from US app stores and web hosting platforms.
This legislative action comes as part of ongoing efforts by American authorities to address perceived national security risks associated with TikTok.
Lawmakers have expressed concerns over ByteDance’s alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party, although both ByteDance and TikTok have vehemently denied such affiliations.
Former President Donald Trump had previously attempted to ban TikTok during his tenure in the White House in 2020, albeit unsuccessfully. However, the current bill signifies a renewed bipartisan push to curtail the app’s presence in the United States.
While the bill’s fate in the Senate remains uncertain, President Joe Biden has pledged to sign it into law if it passes.
This reveals the bipartisan consensus on the need for stricter regulations concerning TikTok’s operations within the country.
Notably, the proposed legislation has drawn criticism from Trump himself, who argues that limiting TikTok would unfairly benefit rival social media platform Facebook.
The former president’s stance adds a layer of complexity to the ongoing debate surrounding the regulation of tech giants and their influence on national security and competition.
As the bill progresses through the legislative process, stakeholders and observers are closely monitoring developments, anticipating potential ramifications for both TikTok users and the broader tech industry.