President Biden has announced his intention to sign legislation that could ultimately result in a ban of the popular video-sharing app TikTok. The app, owned by China-based company ByteDance, has raised concerns about national security due to its data collection practices and the potential influence of the Chinese government.
The bill in question, called the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, would require ByteDance to sell TikTok within six months or face a ban from U.S. app stores and web-hosting services. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise has described the bill as a “critical national security bill” and has announced that it will be voted on in the House next week.
The Justice Department has highlighted the dangers of TikTok, emphasizing the collection of sensitive data and the possibility of Chinese government interference. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has suggested that the legislation may require additional legal scrutiny before President Biden would sign it.
As news of the potential ban spread, TikTok users mobilized to urge lawmakers to vote against the bill, expressing concerns about the impact on their ability to express themselves. Despite its rapid user growth in recent years, TikTok still lags behind other social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, according to a Pew Research Center survey.
The future of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain as lawmakers weigh national security concerns against the app’s popularity among users. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
