A House committee has approved a bill that could lead to a nationwide ban on TikTok, highlighting concerns about the app’s potential spying capabilities for the Chinese government.
The bill, approved unanimously by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, would prevent TikTok from being available in US app stores unless users of the social media network, ByteDance, quickly separate from its parent company, connected to China.
The bill proposes that ByteDance would have 165 days to sell TikTok if not divested by the end of five months, making it illegal for app store operators like Apple and Google to make it available for download. This is the most aggressive proposal from a Congress committee.
The panel’s chair, Republican representative from Washington, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, said, “Today, we will take the initial step towards establishing long-overdue regulations that will safeguard the United States from the danger posed by apps operated by those who oppose us, and to provide an extremely clear signal that the US is never going to give up for our principles of liberty and freedom.”
New Jersey Rep. Frank Pallone compared the TikTok legislation to previous US airwave regulation efforts, citing national security officials’ testimony. Pallone believes the intelligence community has raised concerns and requested more authority, which the bill will address
The bill, supported by Wisconsin Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher and Illinois Democratic Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, has been cleared by the House select committee.
The Senate’s fate is uncertain due to the absence of a companion bill and no commitment from Democratic chair Maria Cantwell to advance the proposal. Cantwell plans to discuss a constitutional and civil liberties-protecting path with Senate and House colleagues.
TikTok raises opposition
TikTok is promoting its user base against a law that strips 170 million Americans of their Constitutional right to free expression, warning that this could damage businesses, destroy creators’ livelihoods, and deny artists an audience. The campaign encourages users to contact Congress members to express opposition.
The calls from teenagers and the elderly are causing confusion among them about the reasons behind their calls and the potential risks to TikTok, according to an interview with a GOP aide.
The bill, referred to as a TikTok ban, is not a ban, according to Gallagher. He stated that it allows TikTok to choose to end their relationship with the Chinese Communist Party
As long as ByteDance no longer owns the company, TikTok can continue to operate, but the basic ownership structure must change.
TikTok refuted assertions made by lawmakers that the bill would provide them choices in a post on X
The business stated, “This legislation has a predefined outcome: a complete ban of TikTok in the United States.” 170 million Americans are being targeted by the government for having their rights under the Constitution to free speech. This would ruin the livelihoods of many artists across the nation, harm millions of companies, and deny artists an audience.
Rep. Dan Crenshaw, a Republican from Texas, refuted claims made during Thursday’s session that legislators were ignorant of the technology they were attempting to control.
“The reason behind this isn’t that we’re cynical and elderly, and we don’t get TikTok and how you use it for business and social media,” Crenshaw said. “I had been using social media for a long time before any of the angry Gen Zers discovered TikTok.” I comprehend.
The bill would limit TikTok’s content storage and hosting by app stores, potentially impacting sectors like Apple, Google, and other tech companies.
Concerns about spying
US officials warn China’s intelligence laws could allow Beijing to access user information on TikTok, potentially allowing the Chinese government to identify intelligence targets or facilitate disinformation campaigns, but cybersecurity experts believe this is a hypothetical concern.
Governments can easily buy personal data from data brokers or use commercial spyware to hack individual phones. State and federal lawmakers have banned TikTok from government-owned devices but have struggled to extend restrictions to personal devices.
Senate lawmakers proposed legislation to restrict TikTok, raising concerns about executive branch power. Montana federal judge temporarily overturned a nationwide ban, citing government-hacking of personal devices and the potential for executive branch interference.
The House bill, focusing on foreign adversary control, is defended by proponents as not limiting expression, while the ACLU claims its impact threatens free speech.
The ACLU is disappointed that leaders are attempting to trade First Amendment rights for political points during an election year. They urge legislators to vote no on the unconstitutional bill banning TikTok, despite its claims that it doesn’t suppress speech.
Stephanie Joyce, senior vice president of the Computer and Communications Industry Association, argues that the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act would infringe on the First Amendment rights of private businesses, including app stores, to curate and display appropriate content.
