TikTok Ban Inches Closer As House Passes Bill
Subheadline:
House legislation would force TikTok to sell or face ban
The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation on Wednesday, April 20, 2024, that would give the popular social media app TikTok two choices: either sell its U.S. operations or face a ban.
The bill, which passed by a vote of 363-68, is the latest in a series of actions taken by the U.S. government to address concerns about TikTok's ties to the Chinese government.
In February 2023, the Biden Administration banned TikTok on devices used by federal employees. The administration cited concerns that TikTok could be used by the Chinese government to collect data on U.S. users.
The House bill would go a step further than the administration's ban. It would require ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, to sell its U.S. operations within 90 days of the bill's passage.
If ByteDance does not sell TikTok's U.S. operations, the bill would give the president the authority to ban the app.
The bill's passage is a significant step towards a potential ban on TikTok in the United States. However, the bill still needs to be passed by the Senate and signed by the president before it can become law.
It is unclear what would happen to TikTok's U.S. users if the app is banned. Some experts believe that TikTok could simply move its U.S. operations to another country. Others believe that the app could be shut down altogether.
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