House Passes Bill to Force Sale or Ban of TikTok
Bill Could Trigger Nationwide Ban of Popular Video App
TikTok Denies Concerns, Says Move is Baseless
WASHINGTON, DC - The House of Representatives has voted to pass a bill that could force the sale of the ultra-popular video app TikTok within a year or face a nationwide ban. The bill, which passed 352 to 65 with one voting present, comes amid growing concerns about the app's ties to the Chinese government.
TikTok, owned by ByteDance, has denied the concerns, saying they are baseless. The company notes that about 60% of its users are in the United States and that it has never shared user data with the Chinese government.
The bill, if signed into law, would give TikTok 90 days to find a buyer that satisfies security concerns raised by the U.S. government. If no buyer is found, the app would be banned from operating in the United States.
The Trump administration has been pressuring TikTok to sell its U.S. operations for months, citing concerns that the app could be used by the Chinese government to collect data on Americans or spread propaganda.
TikTok has said it is open to selling its U.S. operations, but only to a buyer that is not owned or controlled by the Chinese government.
The bill passed by the House would allow a U.S. company to buy TikTok, but it would also require the buyer to obtain approval from the U.S. government.
The bill now goes to the Senate, where it is expected to face a tougher battle.
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