TikTok in the United States' sights: Chamber approves bill that could ban popular app in the country
The bill needs to be approved by senators and receive the sanction of President Joe Biden. If all instances approve, ByteDance must look for a buyer without ties to the Chinese company within six months.
A ByteDande, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, expressed its hope that the American Senate will evaluate the facts impartially - Photo Reproduction/Konstantin Savusia / Shutterstock
TikTok, one of the world's most popular apps, faces an uncertain future in the United States as concerns about data security and foreign influence grow. This Wednesday (13), the United States House of Representatives approved a bill that could result in the banning of TikTok and other apps owned by foreign companies.
The bill requires that the application, currently controlled by the Chinese company ByteDance, be transferred to a new owner in the United States, otherwise the social network will be banned in the country. With broad bipartisan support, the legislation was approved by 352 votes in favor and 65 against. It is still subject to Senate review and presidential sanction. Last week, President Joe Biden expressed his intention to sign the project into law. Although primarily aimed at TikTok, the proposed law has an impact on "applications controlled by foreign adversaries."
Bill
The bill, known as the Consumer Data Security Act, aims to increase privacy protections for American users and reduce the perceived threat of surveillance by foreign governments. One of the most controversial provisions of the bill is the ban on apps owned by foreign companies that do not comply with data security requirements imposed by the United States government.
According to US statements, ByteDance is seen as a potential threat to national security, claiming that China could exploit the company's influence to access American user data. However, TikTok's parent company refutes these claims. According to information from the Reuters agency, TikTok expressed its hope that the American Senate will evaluate the facts impartially and listen to the concerns of its voters before taking any action. A TikTok spokesperson said, "We hope they recognize the economic impact, which hits 7 million small businesses in addition to the 170 million Americans who use our services."
What happens if the project is sanctioned
The approval of the bill by the House of Representatives marks a significant step towards the possible banning of TikTok in the United States. However, there is still a long way to go before the bill becomes law. It now heads to the Senate, where its approval is uncertain, especially considering the political complexities involved and the commercial interests at stake.
If all instances approve, ByteDance must seek a buyer within a maximum period of six months, which does not have ties with the Chinese company. If ByteDance refuses to comply with the United States' decision or is unable to find a buyer, the large technology companies, Apple and Google, responsible for the App Store and Play Store, respectively, will be forced to remove TikTok from their platforms. According to information from The New York Times, American courts may penalize companies that do not comply with the new regulations regarding the Chinese application.
Or TikTok
Since the administration of former President Donald Trump, TikTok has been a target of American authorities. In 2020, Trump attempted to ban new TikTok downloads and planned to shut down the app's operations, but faced a series of legal defeats in relation to this measure. That year, ByteDance refuted Trump's accusations, stating that American users' data was stored in the United States and Singapore. In 2021, Joe Biden issued an executive order that reversed his predecessor's decision to ban Chinese apps TikTok and WeChat from the country.
TikTok says it has sought to allay security and data protection concerns by implementing transparency and data storage measures within the United States. The company also argues that banning TikTok would harm millions of American users who rely on the app for entertainment, creative expression and even to make a living as digital influencers.
However, the growing distrust of TikTok reflects a broader trend of concern about cybersecurity and foreign influence in the United States. As the bill advances through the House of Representatives, the battle between data privacy and freedom of expression is more intense than ever, leaving TikTok's future in the United States hanging by a thread.
