US House Set to Vote on Legislation Threatening TikTok’s Chinese Ownership

The upcoming vote in the US House of Representatives on Wednesday marks a critical juncture for TikTok, the popular video-sharing app, as lawmakers deliberate a bill aimed at severing its ties with its Chinese parent company or facing a ban within the United States. The proposed legislation underscores growing concerns among governments and security agencies worldwide regarding the app’s Chinese ownership and its potential susceptibility to influence from Beijing’s Communist Party.

Expected to take place at 10:00 am (1400 GMT), the vote represents a rare moment of bipartisan agreement within the politically divided landscape of Washington. Despite potential challenges in the Senate, where some influential figures oppose drastic measures against the widely-used app boasting 170 million US users, the bill is anticipated to pass with significant support.

The bill, officially named the “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act,” received unanimous approval in committee last week. If enacted, it would compel TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to divest the app within 180 days or face removal from major app stores operated by Apple and Google in the US. Additionally, it grants the president authority to identify other applications deemed national security threats if controlled by adversarial countries.

TikTok’s response to the proposed legislation has been vigorous, with CEO Shou Zi Chew actively engaging in efforts to thwart its passage. The company has expressed profound constitutional concerns over the bill’s rapid advancement without public hearings. While proponents, including co-sponsors Representatives Mike Gallagher and Raja Krishnamoorthi, contend that the bill doesn’t equate to a ban but rather urges divestment from ByteDance, China has warned of potential repercussions, characterizing the move as coercive behavior.

Former President Donald Trump’s evolving stance on the issue, now opposing a ban primarily due to concerns about empowering Meta, underscores the complexities surrounding TikTok’s fate. Despite previous attempts by Trump’s administration to exert control over the app being blocked by US courts, the current legislative push signifies ongoing scrutiny of TikTok’s operations amid persistent national security apprehensions.