In a decisive move with significant implications for the future of social media giant TikTok, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bill on Wednesday.
This legislation would mandate ByteDance, the Chinese owner of TikTok, to divest its U.S. assets within approximately six months, or face an outright ban. The bill's passage marks the most significant threat to the popular short-video app since the era of the Trump administration's scrutiny.
With a resounding bipartisan vote of 352-65, the bill sailed through the House, highlighting the broad support it garnered across party lines. However, its trajectory through the Senate remains uncertain, as some senators advocate for alternative approaches to regulating foreign-owned apps that raise security concerns. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer indicated that the Senate would carefully review the legislation before any decision is made.
"This is a critical national security issue. The Senate must take this up and pass it," remarked No. 2 House Republican Steve Scalise on the social media platform X, underscoring the urgency felt by lawmakers regarding TikTok's potential security risks.
The fate of TikTok, which boasts approximately 170 million American users, has emerged as a focal point in Washington's political landscape. Lawmakers revealed that their offices were inundated with calls from teenage TikTok users who vehemently oppose the legislation.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre echoed sentiments urging swift action from the Senate, stating on Wednesday, "we want to see the Senate take swift action."
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew took to social media to express concerns over the bill's consequences, emphasizing that if signed into law, it would lead to a ban on TikTok in the United States. He cautioned that such a ban would inflict significant economic repercussions, jeopardizing billions of dollars in revenue for creators and small businesses and putting approximately 300,000 American jobs at risk.
Chew's visit to Capitol Hill on Wednesday, followed by plans to return on Thursday, underscores TikTok's proactive stance in addressing concerns raised by policymakers amidst widespread public support for the app.
The bill represents the latest in a series of legislative responses in Washington aimed at mitigating U.S. national security apprehensions regarding China, spanning from concerns over connected vehicles to advanced artificial intelligence chips to maritime infrastructure.
The political momentum appears to be in favor of the bill, with President Joe Biden indicating his intention to sign it. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan emphasized the fundamental question at stake: "Do we want TikTok, as a platform, to be owned by an American company or owned by China? Do we want the data from TikTok - children's data, adults' data - to be going, to be staying here in America or going to China?"
Meanwhile, the Chinese Foreign Ministry denounced the legislation, rebuffing U.S. claims of national security threats posed by TikTok and asserting that the U.S. has persistently targeted the app without evidence.
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