The U.S. House of Representatives will accelerate a vote next week on a bill mandating that China’s ByteDance divest from the TikTok app within six months or face a U.S. ban.
Majority Leader Steve Scalise via his X (formerly twitter) page said house would vote next week “to force TikTok to sever their ties with the Chinese Communist party.”
Representatives Mike Gallagher and Raja Krishnamoorthi introduced the legislation to address national security concerns brewing from Chinese ownership of the app.
Although former President Donald Trump unsuccessfully tried to ban the app in 2020, which was largely opposed by the U.S courts.
Tiktok said after the vote that, “This legislation has a predetermined outcome: a total ban of TikTok in the United States,” They further clarified, “The government is attempting to strip 170 million Americans of their Constitutional right to free expression. This will damage millions of businesses, deny artists an audience, and destroy the livelihoods of countless creators across the country.”
Gallagher reiterated that TikTok could continue to operate independently, “TikTok could live on and people could do whatever they want on it provided there is that separation.”
The bill stipulates a 165-day timeline for ByteDance to divest from TikTok; failure to comply would result in app stores, including those operated by Apple and Google, being barred from offering TikTok or providing web hosting services for ByteDance-controlled applications. Although, with no action taken, The Treasury-led Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) had also in March 2023 demanded ByteDance sell their TikTok shares or face the possibility of the app being banned.
“Why are Members of Congress complaining about hearing from their constituents? Respectfully, isn’t that their job?” TikTok said on X (formerly twitter). This is coming after users flooded the Hill with calls and texts to their respective senators and reps member.
According to Karine Jean-Pierre, The White House Secretary, the administration wants “to see this bill get done so it can get to the president’s desk.” she said, which is in support of the bill.