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The recent introduction of legislation by a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers to force China’s ByteDance to divest TikTok, a popular short video app, has reignited national security concerns surrounding its Chinese ownership. The bill, introduced by Republican Mike Gallagher and Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi, seeks to give ByteDance six months to divest TikTok or face a ban in the United States.
The move comes after previous attempts to ban TikTok stalled in Congress last year due to heavy lobbying efforts by the company. The new bill, which is expected to see an initial vote on Thursday, aims to address concerns about potential Chinese government influence over the app, which is used by more than 170 million Americans.
Gallagher emphasized the national security implications of allowing a Chinese-owned platform like TikTok to operate in the United States, stating, “America’s foremost adversary has no business controlling a dominant media platform in the United States.” The bill would require ByteDance to divest TikTok or risk being unable to offer the app through major app stores or provide web hosting services to apps controlled by the company.
Despite the potential impact on American users and small businesses that rely on TikTok for growth and job creation, the bill does not authorize enforcement against individual users of the app. A spokesperson for TikTok criticized the legislation, calling it an “outright ban” that would violate the First Amendment rights of millions of Americans.
However, the White House National Security Council expressed support for the bill, calling it “an important and welcome step” in addressing national security risks posed by tech services with ties to foreign adversaries. The Biden administration has worked with lawmakers from both parties to strengthen legislation aimed at protecting Americans’ sensitive data and national security interests.
TikTok has denied sharing U.S. user data with the Chinese government and has pushed back against allegations of security risks. The American Civil Liberties Union has labeled the bill unconstitutional, accusing lawmakers of trading First Amendment rights for political gain during an election year.
The legislation would require companion legislation in the Senate and will be considered at an Energy and Commerce Committee hearing for a vote. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who chairs the committee, highlighted the need to prevent foreign adversaries like China from surveilling and manipulating Americans through online applications like TikTok.
The bill would provide the president with new powers to designate apps posing national security risks and subject them to bans or divestment requirements. It targets apps with over a million active users under the control of foreign adversaries. Concerns about Chinese-owned TikTok led Congress to explore measures to address potential risks or even ban the app, with previous efforts to ban federal employees from using it on government devices.
The legislation aims to bolster legal authority to address TikTok concerns after previous attempts to ban the app were blocked by U.S. courts. The introduction of the bill reflects ongoing efforts to address national security risks related to foreign-owned technology platforms operating in the United States.
In conclusion, the proposed legislation to force ByteDance to divest TikTok underscores ongoing concerns about potential national security risks associated with Chinese ownership of popular social media platforms. The bill faces opposition from TikTok and civil liberties groups, who argue that it infringes on free speech rights. The outcome of the legislative process will have significant implications for the future of TikTok and other foreign-owned apps in the U.S. market.
