A bill approved by a US congressional panel mandates TikTok’s Chinese parent company to sell the app within six months or face a ban due to national security concerns. TikTok argues that the proposed legislation would negatively impact free speech and small businesses relying on the app. The company has encouraged users to contact Congress to express their opposition.
The bill, put forward by a bipartisan group from the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, was unanimously approved by the Energy and Commerce Committee. It is set for a full House floor vote next week and would require Senate approval to become law. Despite some congressional offices being inundated with calls, TikTok defended its users’ right to engage with their representatives.
The bill aims to safeguard the national security of the United States by addressing the perceived threat posed by applications controlled by foreign adversaries.
Lawmakers allege that ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, has connections to the Chinese Communist Party, a claim refuted by both ByteDance and TikTok.
Specifically targeting ByteDance, the bill would compel the company to sell TikTok or risk removal from US mobile app stores.
The legislation does not include provisions for legal action against individual users of the app.
Committee chairman Mike Gallagher, a Republican from Wisconsin, emphasized that allowing America’s primary adversary to control a major media platform in the US is unacceptable.
Illinois Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi expressed concerns about TikTok’s national security risks due to its parent company’s alleged collaboration with China’s political leadership.
Supporters of the bill argue that it does not equate to a direct ban on TikTok, as ByteDance is given approximately six months to comply.
However, TikTok labeled the move as an “outright ban” in a statement, criticizing the legislation for infringing on the First Amendment rights of millions of Americans and impacting small businesses that rely on the platform for growth and job creation.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) echoed these sentiments, condemning the bill as a ploy to gain political advantage during an election year and highlighting the app’s importance for information and communication among Americans.
This proposed legislation is the latest effort by US lawmakers to regulate TikTok, which is already prohibited on government devices, although President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign maintains an account. Previous attempts by former President Donald Trump to ban TikTok and WeChat faced legal challenges and were never implemented.
