A House committee has unanimously approved a bill that could lead to a nationwide ban on TikTok, one of the world’s most popular social media apps, citing fears that the app may pose a Chinese government spying risk.
The bill, which advanced through the House Energy and Commerce Committee, would require TikTok to be spun off from its China-linked parent company, ByteDance, within 165 days. If not divested by the specified date, app store operators like Apple and Google would be prohibited by law from offering TikTok for download. The legislation also applies to other apps controlled by foreign adversary companies.
The move comes amid ongoing concerns from US officials about China’s intelligence laws potentially enabling Beijing to access user information collected by TikTok. While no evidence has been publicly presented that the Chinese government has accessed TikTok user data, policymakers fear that such access could be used to identify intelligence targets or facilitate disinformation campaigns.
TikTok has been vocal in opposing the bill, arguing that it violates Americans’ Constitutional right to free expression. The company has mobilized its user base against the bill, urging users to contact their members of Congress to express opposition.
Efforts to ban TikTok in the US date back to the Trump administration, which issued executive orders to try to force app stores not to offer TikTok and to compel ByteDance to spin off the company. However, these efforts stalled amid legal challenges.
The bill’s sponsors maintain that it does not censor speech but rather focuses on foreign adversary control. However, critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union, argue that the bill would implicate Americans’ free speech rights.
The legislation will now head to a floor vote in the House next week. The outcome of the bill in the Senate is uncertain, as there is no companion bill and Sen. Maria Cantwell, the Democratic chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, has not indicated whether she will support advancing the proposal.
If enacted, the bill would have far-reaching implications not only for TikTok but potentially for other apps and industries, as it could restrict content from being carried by various internet hosting services.
Overall, the bill represents a significant step in the ongoing debate over national security and privacy concerns related to popular social media apps, particularly those with ties to foreign governments.
