In a significant move on Wednesday, the House of Representatives voted to pass bipartisan legislation aimed at compelling TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the popular social media platform within six months or risk facing a ban in the United States.
The bill received overwhelming support with a final vote count of 352-65, comfortably surpassing the required two-thirds majority threshold under a suspension of the rules.
The proposed legislation, if enacted, would mandate ByteDance to divest from TikTok within the stipulated time frame, failing which app stores would be directed to prohibit access to the platform.
Despite an 11th-hour lobbying effort from TikTok’s supporters and some opposition from former President Donald Trump, who notably reversed his stance on the app, the bill successfully cleared the House.
However, the fate of the legislation in the Senate remains uncertain, with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer refraining from committing to bringing it to the Senate floor.
Schumer stated in a post-vote statement that the Senate would review the bill upon its arrival from the House. Nevertheless, President Joe Biden has indicated his willingness to sign the legislation should it reach his desk.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, emphasizing the bipartisan nature of the vote, urged the Senate to take prompt action.
“Today’s bipartisan vote demonstrates Congress’ opposition to Communist China’s attempts to spy on and manipulate Americans,” Johnson remarked, calling on the Senate to follow suit and pass the bill for the president’s signature.
Subsequent endorsements from Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner and Vice Chairman Marco Rubio underscored the bipartisan consensus on addressing the perceived national security risks associated with TikTok.
However, the prospects of garnering the requisite 60 votes in the Senate remain uncertain.
The bill faced opposition from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers, with 15 Republicans and 50 Democrats voting against it.
Critics raised concerns about potential violations of First Amendment rights, while proponents emphasized national security imperatives. Representative Mike Gallagher underscored the need to guard against disinformation and foreign influence, citing instances of TikTok being exploited for espionage purposes.
Amidst debates on the legislation, lawmakers reiterated that the primary objective was to mitigate national security risks posed by TikTok’s Chinese ownership rather than outright ban the app. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi highlighted the app’s educational and business benefits while assuring that the legislation aimed to make TikTok better, not ban it altogether.
However, voices of dissent, including from Representative Thomas Massie, cautioned against perceived infringements on free speech, emphasizing Americans’ right to access information without government intervention.
As the legislative process unfolds, the future of TikTok in the United States hangs in the balance, with lawmakers grappling with complex considerations of national security and individual liberties.
