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NEW DELHI: The US House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved a bill that gives Chinese-owned TikTok parent company, ByteDance, around six months to sell off the app’s assets in the United States or face a ban.
The bill passed with a vote of 352-65, gaining support from both Democrats and Republicans. However, its future in the Senate remains uncertain, as some senators prefer a different approach to regulating foreign-owned apps that may pose security risks. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has not yet revealed his plans for the bill.
The fate of TikTok has become a significant concern in Washington, with lawmakers receiving numerous calls from teenage users opposing the legislation. In fact, the volume of complaints has at times surpassed the number of calls seeking a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. This bill is part of a series of measures aimed at addressing US national security concerns regarding China, spanning from connected vehicles to advanced artificial intelligence chips and cranes at US ports.
The vote took place just over a week after the bill was proposed and following limited debate in Congress. The proposal had been stalled for over a year, and TikTok officials were hopeful that legislation would not be passed this year after President Joe Biden‘s re-election campaign joined the platform. However, the House Energy and Commerce Committee recently voted 50-0 in favor of the bill, paving the way for the full House vote.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, who had previously scheduled a visit to Capitol Hill, is expected to talk to senators about the matter. Before the vote, TikTok expressed its belief that the legislation was designed to result in a complete ban of the app in the United States, arguing that it would infringe upon Americans’ constitutional right to freedom of expression.
The bill passed with a vote of 352-65, gaining support from both Democrats and Republicans. However, its future in the Senate remains uncertain, as some senators prefer a different approach to regulating foreign-owned apps that may pose security risks. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has not yet revealed his plans for the bill.
The fate of TikTok has become a significant concern in Washington, with lawmakers receiving numerous calls from teenage users opposing the legislation. In fact, the volume of complaints has at times surpassed the number of calls seeking a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. This bill is part of a series of measures aimed at addressing US national security concerns regarding China, spanning from connected vehicles to advanced artificial intelligence chips and cranes at US ports.
The vote took place just over a week after the bill was proposed and following limited debate in Congress. The proposal had been stalled for over a year, and TikTok officials were hopeful that legislation would not be passed this year after President Joe Biden‘s re-election campaign joined the platform. However, the House Energy and Commerce Committee recently voted 50-0 in favor of the bill, paving the way for the full House vote.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, who had previously scheduled a visit to Capitol Hill, is expected to talk to senators about the matter. Before the vote, TikTok expressed its belief that the legislation was designed to result in a complete ban of the app in the United States, arguing that it would infringe upon Americans’ constitutional right to freedom of expression.
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