House Bill Threatens to Ban TikTok, Raising Free Speech Concerns and National Security Risks
The US House of Representatives passed a bill over the weekend that could ban TikTok in the US if its Chinese owner, ByteDance, does not sell its stake within a year.
The bill was supported by both Republican and Democratic lawmakers and the Biden administration, who express concerns over national security risks and potential data sharing with China.
TikTok has expressed concerns over the bill's impact on free speech.
The bill now moves to the Senate for a potential vote.
President Biden has previously stated that he would sign the legislation if it reaches his desk.
US lawmakers from both parties and the Biden administration express concerns over TikTok's potential national security risks due to China's ability to access user data.
A proposed foreign aid package may include a ban on TikTok, accelerating the timeline after a previous bill stalled in the Senate.
TikTok criticized the proposed ban, stating it would infringe on the free speech rights of its 170 million US users.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and TikTok have argued against a state ban on the social media app in Montana, claiming it infringes on the First Amendment's protection of free speech.
The ACLU opposes a recent House bill on this ground.
TikTok maintains it has never shared US data and would not do so.
Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat and chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, expressed concern that TikTok could be used as a propaganda tool by the Chinese government, particularly among young people who use the app for news.