WASHINGTON (AP) — House passed Wednesday invoice It would lead to a nationwide ban on popular video app TikTok if its China-based owners don't sell. Lawmakers acted on concerns that the company's current ownership structure was fraudulent. national security threat.
The bill passed by a vote of 352-65 and now heads to the Senate, where its prospects are uncertain.
TikTok is Over 150 million US usersis a wholly owned subsidiary of Chinese technology company ByteDance Ltd.
Lawmakers say ByteDance is I am indebted to the Chinese government, may request access to the data of TikTok consumers in the United States at any time. The concerns stem from a series of Chinese national security laws that require organizations to assist in intelligence gathering.
“We gave TikTok a clear choice,” said Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.). “It's a choice: separate from its parent company ByteDance, which is beholden to the CCP (Chinese Communist Party), and continue operating in the United States, or stand with the Chinese Communist Party and face the consequences. The choice is TikTok.”
Passing the bill in the House is just the first step. For the bill to become law, it must also be passed by the Senate, whose members have indicated they will overhaul it. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said he would need to consult with relevant committee chairs to decide how to proceed with the bill.
president joe biden He said he would do so if Congress passed the bill. Please sign.
The House vote is the latest example of escalating tensions between China and the U.S. By targeting TikTok, lawmakers are addressing what they see as a grave threat to U.S. national security. , while at the same time identifying a platform popular with millions of people, many of whom are still young and months before the election.
TikTok spokesperson Alex Howrek said in a statement after the vote that the bill stalled as part of a secret process.
“We want the Senate to consider the facts, listen to voters, and recognize the impact on our economy, our 7 million small businesses, and the 170 million Americans who use our services. I look forward to it,” Howrek said.
Overall, 197 Republicans voted for the bill and 15 voted against it. On the Democratic side, there were 155 votes in favor and 50 votes against.
Some Republican lawmakers opposed to the bill argued that the U.S. should warn consumers when there are data privacy or propaganda concerns, but that the ultimate choice should be left to consumers. Democrats also warned of the impact the ban would have on US users, including entrepreneurs and business owners.
“The answer to authoritarianism is not more authoritarianism,” said Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif. “The answer to CCP-style propaganda is not CCP-style repression. Let's slow down before we fail on this very steep and slippery slope.”
Representative Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) opposed the bill. He said the United States would never support other countries that require American companies to sell to other countries or face bans.
“We have a national security obligation to prevent America's most strategic adversaries from becoming deeply involved in our lives.”
Congressman Nick Larota, RN.Y.
“We can't let another country take over Ford Motor Company to sell Ford cars in our own country. But that's what we want to do here,” Massey said. “This is a cure that is worse than the disease.”
The day before the House vote, top national security officials from the Biden administration met privately with lawmakers to discuss TikTok and its national security implications. Lawmakers are balancing these safety concerns with a desire not to limit free speech online.
“What we've tried to do here is be very thoughtful about the need to force the sale of TikTok without giving the executive branch the power to regulate content or go after American companies,” said Congressman Mike Gallagher. We have to be very careful.” Author of the bill that came out of the press conference.
“What we heard in today's classified briefing was not unique to TikTok. It was happening on every social media platform.”
Rep. Sarah Jacobs, D-Calif.
TikTok has long denied the possibility of being used as a tool by the Chinese government. The company said it has never shared U.S. user data with Chinese authorities and would not do so if asked. To date, the US government has also provided no evidence that TikTok has shared such information with Chinese authorities.
Republican leaders moved quickly to introduce the bill after it was introduced last week.House committee approved The bill passed unanimously on a 50-0 vote, even though the office was flooded with calls from TikTok users asking for the initiative to be halted. Some offices even cut off the phones due to the onslaught. Supporters of the bill said the effort backfired.
“(This) provided members with a preview of how the platform can be weaponized to inject disinformation into our systems,” Gallagher said.
Lawmakers from both parties are keen to confront China on a variety of issues. The House of Representatives has established a special committee to focus on China-related issues. Schumer then directed committee chairs to begin working with Republicans on a bipartisan China competition bill.
Schumer is likely feeling pressure from within his own party to move forward with the TikTok bill. After the House vote, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner said, “We will work to get this bill passed by the Senate and signed into law.''
In a joint statement with Sen. Marco Rubio, the top Republican on the Intelligence Committee, Warner said, “We stand behind TikTok, a platform whose parent company has tremendous power to influence and divide Americans.'' “We are united in our concern for national security threats.” ByteDance remains legally obligated to comply with the orders of the Chinese Communist Party.”
FILE – March 11, 2024 A TikTok sign hangs on its building in Culver City, California. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)
Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, who pushed for a ban on TikTok last year, posted on X after the vote: “Now is the time to take action against TikTok and stop Chinese spying. The Senate should consider this bill immediately.”
About 30 TikTok influencers and others who accompanied them spoke out against the bill at the Capitol on Wednesday. They chanted phrases such as “Keep TikTok” ahead of the vote. They also held placards that read, “TikTok has changed my life for the better” and “TikTok has helped me grow my business.”
Dan Salinger, a Sacramento, Calif.-based TikTok creator who attended, said he started creating content on the app purely out of boredom during the coronavirus pandemic. But since then, his account, which features videos about his life and his father, who suffers from dementia, has grown in popularity. Currently, he has 2 million followers on his app.
“I'm actually appalled for a number of reasons,” Salinger said. “The speed with which they are passing this bill does not allow enough time for the American people to voice their concerns and opinions.”
