The House on Wednesday made a bold move to push through legislation that would require the sale of TikTok by its Chinese owner or ban the popular social media app in the United States. Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated plans to package the measure with foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan in an effort to accelerate the process.
The new legislation, a modified version of a bill passed last month, would still require TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app to owners that address national security concerns. However, the deadline for the sale could be extended to nine months from the original six months, with the possibility of a further 90-day extension if progress is being made.
House lawmakers are expected to vote on the package of legislation on Saturday, including the TikTok ban and other bills popular with Republicans. This strategic move aims to incentivize lawmakers to vote for the foreign aid package. If the package passes in the House, it will be sent as a single bill to the Senate for a vote, with President Biden indicating he would sign the TikTok legislation into law if it reaches his desk.
The push to force the sale of TikTok is driven by national security concerns, with legislators worried about Beijing’s potential access to U.S. user data or use of the app for propaganda. TikTok has defended itself, stating it has implemented measures to protect user data and provide oversight of content recommendations.
The legislation, if signed into law, is expected to face legal challenges, similar to previous attempts to ban or force the sale of TikTok. The campaign to sell TikTok has garnered support from administration officials and lawmakers who share national security worries, with briefings from intelligence agencies fueling the effort to pass the bill.
The fate of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain, with potential legal challenges, the possibility of Beijing blocking a sale, and the app’s significant cultural and political influence at stake. The upcoming vote in the House will be a crucial moment in determining the future of TikTok in the United States.
