The US House of Representatives has taken a significant step towards potentially banning TikTok with the passage of a bill.
The legislation requires TikTok's owner, ByteDance, to sell its stake in the platform within six months or face a ban from US app stores and web hosting services.
The bill of banning TikTok was introduced due to concerns over ByteDance's CCP connections.
The bill received significant support, with 352 representatives voting in favor and only 65 against.
Approximately 170 million users in the United States are currently using TikTok.
The introduction of this bill comes amid concerns over ByteDance's connections to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Supporters of the bill argue that the Chinese government could potentially access the data held by TikTok through ByteDance.
They believe that TikTok's operations in the US should be separate from its parent company to ensure the protection of user data and national security.
Opposition to the bill arose due to concerns about suppressing the freedom of speech of American citizens
However, the bill has faced criticism from opponents because they claim it is a threat to freedom of speech.
They argue that the measures proposed in the bill are draconian and could set a dangerous precedent.
Both support and opposition for the bill have been bipartisan, indicating the complexity of the issue.
The bill is supported by US President Joe Biden and is being considered by the Senate
President Joe Biden has expressed his support for the bill and confirmed his intention to sign it if it passes through Congress.
The bill will now move to the Senate for further consideration and review.
Senators have already indicated that they will conduct a thorough examination of the bill before making a decision.
The passage of the bill in the House is just the first step in the legislative process.
For the bill to become law, it will need to be passed by the Senate.
The outcome of the bill remains uncertain, and further discussions and evaluations are expected before a final decision is reached.
The bill sparks debate among people
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers expressed her support for the bill and conveyed her stance directly to TikTok.
She emphasized that TikTok was presented with a clear ultimatum: "Either sever ties with its parent company ByteDance, which has connections to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and continue operating in the United States, or align with the CCP and face the resulting repercussions. The decision lies in the hands of TikTok."
However, critics of the bill have pointed out that some of the data collection practices targeted by the bill are not unique to TikTok but are prevalent across various social media platforms.
They argue that singling out TikTok may overlook similar practices by US tech companies.
TikTok affirmed that the company will refuse any request to share user data with the Chinese government
Currently, TikTok has denied allegations that it shares user data with the Chinese government and has emphasized its commitment to privacy and security.
The company has stated that it will refuse any requests for data sharing if asked by the Chinese authorities.
