A bill that could lead to a nationwide ban on TikTok has cleared a major hurdle, receiving unanimous approval from the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The legislation aims to sever TikTok’s ties with its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, over concerns that the app could be used for spying by the Chinese government.
Under the bill, TikTok would be required to separate from ByteDance within 165 days. Failure to do so would make it illegal for app stores like Apple and Google to offer TikTok for download. The legislation also opens the door for similar actions against other apps deemed to be “controlled by foreign adversary companies.”
U.S. officials have long expressed concerns about TikTok’s data security, fearing that the Chinese government could access user information. While there is no evidence of such access, policymakers worry that it could be used for intelligence purposes or to spread misinformation.
TikTok has vehemently opposed the bill, arguing that it violates Americans’ right to free expression. The company has urged its users to contact their congressional representatives to voice their opposition to the legislation.
Efforts to ban TikTok began during the Trump administration, which issued executive orders aimed at forcing app stores not to offer TikTok and requiring ByteDance to spin off the company. However, these efforts faced legal challenges and did not succeed.
Supporters of the bill argue that it is not about censoring speech but rather about addressing concerns over foreign control. Critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union, contend that the bill could infringe on Americans’ free speech rights.
The legislation will now move to a full House vote next week. Its prospects in the Senate are uncertain, as there is currently no companion bill, and Senator Maria Cantwell, the Democratic chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, has not indicated whether she will support the proposal.
If enacted, the bill could have significant implications not only for TikTok but also for other apps and industries, potentially limiting the content that can be hosted by various internet platforms.
The bill marks a significant development in the ongoing debate over national security and privacy concerns related to popular social media apps, particularly those with ties to foreign governments.
