In a surprising move, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation that could potentially result in the banning of popular social media app TikTok in the country. The bill, included in a larger foreign aid package, received strong bipartisan support with a vote of 360-58.
The proposed ban would require TikTok’s China-based owner to sell its stake in the app within a year or face being banned in the U.S. The bill will now move to the Senate, where it faces a nine-month selling deadline that could be extended to a full year.
Lawmakers who supported the bill cited national security concerns over potential threats from China and the possibility of data sharing with the Chinese government. TikTok has lobbied against the legislation, arguing that it would violate users’ First Amendment rights.
The swift passage of the bill is unusual and reflects growing concerns about China among members of Congress. TikTok has faced legal challenges in the U.S. before, successfully blocking a ban in Montana and a federal court order from former President Trump.
Despite TikTok’s efforts, including spending $5 million on TV ads opposing the legislation, some lawmakers, content creators, and organizations like the ACLU have criticized the ban. They argue that it could have negative effects on free speech and the economy.
California Rep. Ro Khanna, who voted against the legislation, believes that there could have been less restrictive ways to address national security concerns without resorting to a complete ban on the app. The fate of TikTok in the U.S. now rests in the hands of the Senate as the debate over its future continues.
