The US House of Representatives is poised to vote on a groundbreaking bill that could sever TikTok’s ties with its Chinese owner, signaling a potential ban in the United States. The legislation, officially named the “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act,” sparks bipartisan unity in a politically divided Washington.
The vote, scheduled for 10:00 am (1400 GMT), is anticipated to pass resoundingly, casting uncertainty on the fate of the video-sharing giant. With concerns over its Chinese ownership and potential ties to the Communist Party in Beijing, TikTok’s future hinges on this legislative showdown.
President Joe Biden has signaled his support for the bill, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding Americans from foreign-controlled applications. If passed, the legislation mandates TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app within 180 days or face expulsion from Apple and Google app stores in the US. Additionally, the president gains authority to identify other applications as national security threats if influenced by countries deemed adversarial to the United States.
Surprisingly, the renewed offensive against TikTok caught the company off guard, despite earlier reassurances when President Biden joined the app. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is now in Washington, rallying support to thwart the bill, while concerns about the legislation’s speed and lack of public hearings are voiced by Michael Beckerman, TikTok’s vice president for public policy.
