US politicians are arguing a new decree banning TikTok in the US unless its Chinese owners sell the firm.
TikTok, the widely popular video-sharing app, is under scrutiny due to concerns regarding the security of user data and its ties to the Chinese government.
Bipartisan Efforts to Ban TikTok
Politicians from both major US parties have introduced a bill aimed at banning TikTok unless its owner, ByteDance, sells the app to a non-Chinese company.
The rationale behind the proposed ban is the fear that the Chinese government could exploit security laws to access data on TikTok’s 170 million US users.
TikTok’s Response
TikTok has refuted these concerns, asserting that it would not provide foreign user data to the Chinese government. Despite these assurances, the bill passed the US House of Representatives, signaling bipartisan support for the proposed ban.
Legislative Process
The bill now moves to the Senate, where it is expected to face rigorous scrutiny. While the outcome in the Senate remains uncertain, US President Joe Biden has expressed his intention to sign the bill into law if it garners Senate approval.
Historical Context
This is not the first time US authorities have attempted to restrict TikTok. Former President Donald Trump sought to ban the app during his tenure in the White House in 2020.
However, the current legislation has faced criticism from Trump, now a confirmed Republican candidate for the 2024 presidential election, who argues that limiting TikTok would unfairly favor competitors like Facebook.
Timeline for Potential Ban
If the bill successfully passes the Senate and receives President Biden’s approval, ByteDance would have six months to sell TikTok before any ban would be enforced.
This timeline provides a window for ByteDance to comply with the legislation and address concerns over the app’s ownership and data security.