TikTok Ban Back on the Table as House Passes Legislation
House Votes to Ban TikTok Over Security Concerns
After Stalled Senate Effort, New Bill Aims to Address Ownership Issues
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The House of Representatives has passed legislation that could potentially ban TikTok in the United States if its Chinese owner, ByteDance, does not sell its stake in the video-sharing app.
The bill, approved on Saturday, April 20, 2024, aims to address security concerns raised by US officials who believe that TikTok could be used by the Chinese government to collect sensitive data on American citizens.
The bill's passage marks a significant step in the effort to ban TikTok, which has been under scrutiny for its ties to the Chinese government. In 2022, the Trump administration attempted to ban the app, but the effort was blocked in court.
The new bill, introduced by Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), would give ByteDance 90 days to sell its stake in TikTok to an American company. If ByteDance fails to do so, the bill would ban TikTok from operating in the United States.
The bill now heads to the Senate, where it is expected to face a tougher battle. In 2023, a similar bill stalled in the Senate due to opposition from some Democrats who argued that a ban on TikTok would be an infringement on free speech.
It remains unclear whether the new bill will be able to overcome those objections and become law. However, the passage of the bill in the House represents a major step forward for those who believe that TikTok poses a security risk to the United States.
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