President Joe Biden gave a thumbs-up to a bill zipping through Congress that could shut down TikTok. He said, “If they pass it, I’ll sign it.”
The bill, approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee by a 50-0 vote, mandates China’s ByteDance to sell its TikTok ownership or face stringent restrictions that could block it in the US within five months.
The legislation gained momentum after a wave of TikTok users bombarded congressional offices with calls protesting the bill, which only prompted lawmakers to unanimously support it.
Despite gaining traction in the House with backing from House Speaker Mike Johnson, the Senate has yet to introduce similar legislation. The bill must clear both chambers before reaching Biden’s desk.
Biden’s recent executive order seeks to curb large-scale data transfers to “countries of concern,” including China.
Despite TikTok’s denial of data sharing with China, both the FBI and FCC have raised alarms about security risks.
However, former President Donald Trump voiced opposition to the ban, alleging it would serve as an advantage for Facebook.
The fate of the popular video-sharing app hangs in the balance as legislators grapple with national security concerns amidst a backdrop of technological and geopolitical complexities.