On Wednesday, bipartisan legislation was passed by the House, compelling TikTok’s Chinese parent company to sell the immensely popular social media platform or risk a ban in the U.S. If the bill becomes law, ByteDance would have six months to divest from TikTok before access is prohibited on app stores.
The bill’s passage reflects growing concerns among policymakers about the potential national security risks posed by Chinese-owned technology companies operating in the United States. Lawmakers have expressed worries about the handling of user data by these companies and the possibility of censorship or influence by foreign governments.
ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has faced intense scrutiny from the U.S. government over its handling of user data and its ties to the Chinese Communist Party. This legislation represents a significant escalation in efforts to address these concerns and protect American consumers’ privacy and security in the digital age.
