The U.S. House of Representatives has taken a significant step towards banning TikTok in the country. The bill passed by the House would require ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, to sell the popular social media platform within six months to a buyer approved by the U.S. government. If ByteDance fails to comply, TikTok could face a ban in the United States.
The move comes amid growing concerns from U.S. officials about the national security risks posed by TikTok’s Chinese ownership. There are fears that Beijing could access Americans’ personal data through ByteDance and use the platform to spread political propaganda. TikTok, which is used by 170 million Americans, has insisted that it takes measures to protect user data.
However, the sale of TikTok could be a complicated process, as few buyers may be able to afford the app, which could be worth up to $50 billion. Additionally, potential buyers could face antitrust issues, or China could block the sale altogether. If ByteDance does not sell TikTok, app stores and web hosting companies would be prohibited from distributing or updating the app in the U.S.
The bill still needs to pass the Senate, where it may face challenges. President Biden has indicated that he would sign the bill into law if it clears both houses of Congress. The future of TikTok in the U.S. hangs in the balance as the debate over its ownership and security risks continues.
