The United States House of Representatives has taken a significant step towards potentially banning TikTok nationwide by passing a Bill into law.
The legislation aims to compel ByteDance, the Chinese tech giant behind TikTok, to divest its stake in the popular video-sharing app within six months. Failure to comply could result in TikTok facing a ban from US App stores and web hosting platforms.
The move followed ongoing concerns raised by American authorities regarding national security risks associated with TikTok. Lawmakers asserted that ByteDance’s ties to the Chinese Communist Party posed potential threats, an allegation vehemently denied by both ByteDance and TikTok.
While the Bill’s fate in the Senate remains uncertain, President Joe Biden has expressed his willingness to sign it into law if it reaches his desk.
The proposed legislation has elicited mixed reactions, with former President Donald Trump criticising the latest move.
Trump, who attempted unsuccessfully to ban TikTok during his tenure in the White House in 2020, expressed concerns that limiting TikTok’s presence would unduly give advantage to rival Facebook.
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