The US House of Representatives has passed a significant bill that could lead to the banning of TikTok across America. The proposed legislation would compel ByteDance, the Chinese parent
company of the social media giant, to sell its controlling stake within six months, or else face the app's prohibition in the US. Despite the bill's bipartisan passage in the House, it still awaits approval in the Senate and the president's signature to become law.
Concerns about China's influence over TikTok have long troubled lawmakers. The firm, headquartered in Beijing, is registered in the Cayman Islands and maintains offices throughout Europe and the US.
Should the bill clear the Senate and receive President Joe Biden's endorsement, it may provoke a diplomatic standoff with China.
ByteDance would need authorization from Chinese authorities to complete a compelled divestiture, a move Beijing has pledged to resist. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin warned that such action could have repercussions for the US.
Mike Gallagher, a Republican from Wisconsin and co-author of the bill, emphasized the imperative of not allowing a company beholden to the Chinese Communist Party to control or own a dominant social media platform in America.
Chinese companies are bound by a national security law mandating data sharing with the government upon request.
TikTok has attempted to reassure regulators by asserting measures to segregate the data of its 150 million US users from ByteDance's Chinese employees.
TikTok's CEO, Shou Zi Chew, underscored the company's commitment to safeguarding data and maintaining the platform's independence from external manipulation.
However, a January investigation by the Wall Street Journal revealed data leaks between TikTok's US operations and ByteDance in China. Instances like ByteDance employees accessing a journalist's data to trace their sources have exacerbated concerns.
Speaking before the vote, Hakeem Jeffries, the top Democrat in the House, welcomed the bill, highlighting its potential to mitigate the exploitation of TikTok user data by foreign adversaries.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer pledged that the chamber would review the legislation, although its fate remains uncertain given mixed opinions.
Former President Donald Trump, who previously sought to ban TikTok during his tenure, reversed his stance following discussions with Republican donor Jeff Yass, a reported ByteDance shareholder.
Mr. Trump's opposition to the bill was echoed by some House members, including Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, who argued that it could set a precedent for Congress to force the sale of other corporations.
The Senate Intelligence Committee leaders, Democrat Mark Warner and Republican Marco Rubio, expressed support for the bill, vowing to guide it through the Senate.
Following the House vote, TikTok intensified its efforts to mobilize users to lobby Congress, hoping to sway legislators. Yet, this move has drawn criticism, with some congressional offices reporting a backlash against the company.
Outside the White House, demonstrators protested against the bill, emphasizing TikTok's importance for various sectors, including advocacy, business, and employment.
While the fate of TikTok in the US remains uncertain, the bill signals mounting scrutiny over the national security implications of foreign-controlled technology platforms. Photo by Solen Feyissa, Wikimedia commons.