US Congressional Panel Approves Bill to Force TikTok Sale
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A US congressional panel has unanimously approved a bill that would require TikTok’s China-based parent company, ByteDance, to sell the popular social media app within the next six months or face a ban. The proposed legislation, which cites national security concerns, has gained the backing of the White House and is expected to go to a full House floor vote next week.
TikTok, the short-form video platform, has expressed its concern that the bill would not only impede free speech but also negatively impact the small businesses that rely on the app. In response, the social media giant has urged its users to contact members of Congress to voice their opposition to the bill.
The proposed legislation has triggered a significant response, with congressional offices reporting receiving numerous calls. While the action has overwhelmed some phone lines, reports suggest that a large number of the callers appear to be teenagers.
The bill pledges to “protect the national security of the United States from the threat posed by foreign adversary-controlled applications.” Lawmakers supporting the bill argue that TikTok’s owner, ByteDance, has ties with the Chinese Communist Party. However, both ByteDance and TikTok have consistently denied these allegations.
Under the terms of the bill, ByteDance would be compelled to sell TikTok to a US-based buyer or face removal from mobile app stores in the United States. However, the legislation does not impose any legal action on individual users of the app.
The bill’s proponents emphasize that the proposed action represents an attempt to protect national security and not an outright ban on TikTok. ByteDance would be given a grace period of approximately six months to comply with the requirements set forth in the bill.
TikTok, however, characterized the move as “an outright ban,” asserting that the legislation would infringed upon the First Amendment rights of millions of Americans. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) echoed these concerns, suggesting that the bill was politically motivated. The ACLU further pointed out that many Americans rely on the app for information and communication.
This legislation represents the latest in a string of attempts by American lawmakers to assert control over TikTok. While the app is currently banned on US government devices, President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign maintains an account on the platform.
Previous efforts by former President Donald Trump to ban TikTok and another Chinese-owned app, WeChat, faced legal obstacles and were never implemented.
The bill, authored by a cross-party group of lawmakers forming the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, was approved unanimously by the Energy and Commerce Committee with a vote of 50-0 on March 7, 2024. However, for the legislation to become law, it would also require approval from the Senate.
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