In a move that shocked precisely no one, the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to kick TikTok, the popular social video app, to the curb unless its parent company, ByteDance, sells it off. The bill, dubbed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, passed with a whopping 352-65 vote, with just one member deciding to sit this one out.
The legislation, spearheaded by Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), claims that TikTok, with its roots in China, poses a serious national security threat. The bill’s backers argue that TikTok is effectively a Trojan horse, allowing the Chinese Communist Party to sneak into the lives of unsuspecting Americans.
But here’s where it gets interesting. While the House was all gung-ho about sending TikTok packing, the bill’s fate in the Senate is far from certain. Senators seem to be divided on the issue, and other attempts to ban TikTok have hit a wall. So, TikTok might not be packing its bags just yet.
Unsurprisingly, TikTok is not going down without a fight. A spokesperson for the app called the whole process “secret” and accused lawmakers of trying to sneak in a ban under the guise of national security. They pointed out that millions of Americans and countless small businesses rely on TikTok, and a ban could have serious economic consequences.
Even President Joe Biden, who once danced his way into the hearts of TikTok users with his own account, seems to be on board with the ban. The White House has been lending a helping hand in crafting the legislation, and Biden has indicated that he would sign it if it lands on his desk.
But not everyone is thrilled about the prospect of a TikTok ban. Civil liberties groups like the ACLU and the Knight Institute have raised concerns about the bill violating the First Amendment. And then there’s former President Donald Trump, who has his own bone to pick with TikTok.
Trump, who famously clashed with TikTok during his presidency, now sees the app as a thorn in the side of his new nemesis, Facebook. He believes that banning TikTok would only make Facebook stronger, and he’s not about to let that happen.
So, what’s next for TikTok? It’s hard to say. If the bill does pass, ByteDance could be forced to sell off TikTok’s U.S. operations, potentially fetching a hefty sum. But ByteDance could also decide to simply pull the plug on TikTok in the U.S. rather than go through the hassle of a sale.
In the meantime, TikTok creators are already looking for new avenues to diversify their brands, just in case their favorite platform gets the boot. So, while the House may have given TikTok the boot, the real drama is just beginning.
(Source: CNN | NBC)
