In a sweeping move that could see the social media giant TikTok barred from American phone screens, the U.S. House has passed a bill pushing for its sale by Chinese parent company ByteDance or face an outright ban. Knox News reports that the move echoed measures already taken at a local level in Anderson County, where officials prohibited the app's use on county devices last year to protect cybersecurity. In its push against TikTok, which boasts over 170 million U.S. users, the House's decision teeters on uncertain fate in the Senate.
As Anderson County commissioners cite federal precedents for the local ban, the U.S. House's decision has been met with staunch criticism from China, where the foreign ministry decried the move as "an act of bullying," suggesting it could have ricochet effects on the U.S. itself according to a CNN interview; meanwhile, Oak Ridge city government has not taken any steps to block the application on city-owned devices, while the potential nationwide ban has bipartisan Congressional support despite China's claims, and it remains to be seen how it will play out once it hits the Senate floor.
Lawmakers have raised the banner of national security to justify their scrutiny of TikTok, with fears that ByteDance could be compelled by the Chinese government to hand over U.S. user data or use the platform to influence or spew propaganda. Yet, concrete evidence linking TikTok to such activities remains elusive, as noted by cybersecurity experts who spoke to knowledgeable sources ; despite that, United Cleanup Oak Ridge (UCOR) has already blocked TikTok following federal guidelines put in place last year.
With the ball now in TikTok's court, Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin clarified the House's stance, remarking that the bill doesn't spell an outright ban but rather gives TikTok the ultimatum to sever ties with the Chinese Communist Party, allowing the platform a lifeline provided its ownership goes through a restructuring, in a statement obtained by AOL News.
