The US House of Representatives is set for a crucial vote next week on a bill that could see TikTok banned in the country. The bill, which was unanimously approved by the Energy and Commerce Committee, would give TikTok’s Chinese owner ByteDance six months to sell the popular short video app or face a ban.
This is the most significant development yet in the US government’s efforts to crack down on TikTok, which has over 170 million users in the US. Previous attempts, including a ban attempt by former President Donald Trump in 2020, had stalled.
Lawmakers are concerned about the national security implications of Chinese ownership of TikTok, worrying that the Chinese government could access user data or use the app to spread propaganda but TikTok denies these allegations and says it would never share US user data with China.
The company argues that the bill is essentially a ban and would violate the free speech rights of millions of Americans. It would also harm businesses and creators who rely on the platform.
Before the vote, lawmakers received a classified briefing on the national security risks of TikTok as both Democrats and Republicans are pushing for the bill, hoping to force ByteDance to sell the app and ensure American ownership.
TikTok users have been lobbying Congress against the bill, flooding Capitol Hill with phone calls. The company argues that this is a normal part of democracy and that lawmakers should listen to their constituents.
The bill would give ByteDance 165 days to sell TikTok. If a sale doesn’t happen, Apple, Google, and other app stores would be prohibited from offering TikTok or providing web hosting services to ByteDance apps.
The White House supports the bill, while some lawmakers have concerns about its constitutionality, particularly the targeting of specific companies. Getting the bill passed by both houses of Congress, especially in an election year, could be challenging.
This new bill is an attempt to strengthen the legal authority to address national security concerns surrounding TikTok. Previous attempts to ban the app, including by Trump in 2020 and a state ban in Montana, have been blocked by courts.
The situation remains fluid, but the US government is clearly determined to address the national security risks posed by TikTok. Whether this will lead to a sale or a ban remains to be seen.