The House of Representatives has passed a bill with strong bipartisan support that could potentially lead to a nationwide ban against popular social media app TikTok. The bill aims to prohibit TikTok from US app stores unless it is separated from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. This move comes in response to growing national security concerns regarding the Chinese government’s access to user data.
Former President Donald Trump, who previously advocated for the banning of TikTok, has now shifted his stance stating that eliminating the app would benefit competitors like Facebook. In response to the legislation, TikTok has launched a call-to-action campaign within the app urging users to oppose the bill.
The bill now moves to the Senate where its fate remains uncertain, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer yet to make a commitment to the legislation. TikTok CEO has been actively attempting to schedule meetings with members of Congress to push back against claims that the bill would not provide any alternative options for the app.
TikTok has argued that the legislation, if passed, would effectively result in a total ban of the app in the United States, depriving millions of Americans of their right to free expression. The app has become a popular platform for sharing short videos and has a large user base in the US.
As the debate surrounding TikTok and national security concerns continue to unfold, it remains to be seen what the ultimate fate of the app will be in the United States.
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