The House on Wednesday made a bold move to push through legislation that would require the sale of TikTok by its Chinese owner or ban the popular social media app in the United States. This latest effort comes as lawmakers seek to address national security concerns surrounding the app’s ownership by ByteDance.
The modified version of the bill, which will be considered alongside a package of foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, includes an option to extend the deadline for a sale to nine months, with the possibility of a further 90-day extension if progress is being made. House lawmakers are set to vote on the package on Saturday, with President Biden indicating he would sign the legislation into law if it reaches his desk.
The move to package TikTok legislation with other bills popular with Republicans is seen as a strategic maneuver to garner support for the foreign aid package. Paul Gallant, a policy analyst, described it as a bit of brinkmanship to force a vote without further negotiation with the Senate.
The push to force the sale of TikTok is driven by concerns over national security, with lawmakers citing the potential for Beijing to access user data or use the app for propaganda. TikTok has defended itself, stating it has invested heavily in a plan to protect user data and provide oversight of content recommendations.
The legislation, if signed into law, is expected to face legal challenges, similar to previous attempts to ban or force the sale of TikTok. The app’s significant influence over culture and politics, with 170 million users in the U.S., adds to the complexity of the situation.
The campaign to sell TikTok has garnered support from administration officials who share national security worries, with the White House providing assistance to lawmakers in drafting the legislation. Briefings from intelligence agencies have further fueled the effort to pass the bill, highlighting the seriousness of the concerns surrounding TikTok’s ownership.
