The House of Representatives passed legislation on Wednesday with significant bipartisan support, aiming to compel TikTok’s Chinese owner to divest the immensely popular video-sharing app or face prohibition in the United States.
This move intensifies the ongoing confrontation between Beijing and Washington concerning the control of various technologies, potentially impacting national security, freedom of speech, and the social media sector.
Republican leaders expedited the bill’s passage through the House with minimal deliberation, resulting in a decisive vote of 352 to 65, indicating broad endorsement for a measure targeting China, especially in an election year.
Despite TikTok’s attempts to rally its 170 million U.S. users against the bill, and amid the Biden administration’s efforts to convince lawmakers about the grave national security risks posed by Chinese ownership, bipartisan support for the measure emerged.
The bill, designed to compel ByteDance to sell TikTok to non-Chinese entities within six months to address national security concerns, faces hurdles in the Senate. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer remains undecided on bringing it to a vote, and some senators are prepared to oppose it. Even if passed and enacted, legal challenges are likely.
Nonetheless, the House vote marks the first instance of a measure capable of widely banning TikTok being endorsed by a full congressional chamber. The app has been under scrutiny since 2020, with lawmakers increasingly citing national security risks associated with Beijing’s ties to ByteDance.
Representative Mike Gallagher, a leading proponent of the bill, emphasized on the House floor that it compels TikTok to sever ties with the Chinese Communist Party.
TikTok’s spokesperson, Alex Haurek, criticized the House process as secretive and the bill as rushed, emphasizing the potential impact on the economy and the millions of Americans who use the app.
Ahead of the House vote, Beijing denounced U.S. lawmakers’ actions, rejecting allegations that TikTok poses a threat to the United States.
If enacted, the legislation could exacerbate tensions between the U.S. and China over the control of vital technologies, extending beyond TikTok to include sectors like solar energy, electric vehicles, and semiconductors.
While TikTok has asserted efforts to safeguard U.S. user data and ensure platform oversight, concerns persist among lawmakers regarding potential data misuse and foreign influence.
In an unusual move, TikTok urged users to voice opposition to the bill, stating its inevitable consequence would be a total U.S. ban.
The bill’s bipartisan support in the House contrasts with divisions within both parties. While President Biden has expressed willingness to sign it, some top House leaders, including Representative Katherine Clark, opposed the bill. Similarly, former President Trump, despite initially opposing the bill, saw support from several House allies.
There remains a possibility that the bill’s fate could be uncertain under a new administration, as seen with Trump’s changing stance on TikTok’s ban in 2020. Despite his prior concerns about national security, he acknowledged the app’s popularity and potential impact on young users.
