Proposed Legislation Threatens TikTok’s Future
TikTok, the wildly popular short-video app, could face a potential ban in the United States if its parent company, China’s ByteDance, fails to divest it. The latest move comes from congressional lawmakers, led by Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, who are targeting concerns over data collection practices and privacy protections.
Details of the Legislation
Introduced by a bipartisan group of over 15 House lawmakers, the bill would require ByteDance to divest TikTok within five months. Failure to do so would make it illegal for app stores like Apple and Google to offer the platform. TikTok spokesperson Alex Haurek labeled the bill as an “outright ban,” raising concerns over First Amendment rights and the impact on small businesses.
Rep. Gallagher issued a stern warning to TikTok, stating, “Break up with the Chinese Communist Party or lose access to your American users.” Despite TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew’s denial of any ties to the CCP in a previous congressional hearing, lawmakers remain firm in their stance on protecting American social media users from potential threats.
Bipartisan Support for User Protection
Rep. Krishnamoorthi emphasized the importance of driving the divestment of apps controlled by foreign adversaries to safeguard Americans from digital surveillance and influence operations. With ongoing national security concerns surrounding TikTok, the proposed legislation seeks to address these issues during an election year.
The future of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain as lawmakers push for stricter regulations to ensure the protection of user data and privacy rights.
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