U.S. House Votes to Ban TikTok Unless Sold to Approved Buyer

The battle over the popular short-form video app TikTok has reached a new level as the U.S. House of Representatives voted to ban the platform unless it is sold to a government-approved buyer. The push to force Chinese company ByteDance to divest itself of ownership of TikTok in the United States has been gaining momentum, with concerns about data security and China’s potential influence on the app.

Lawmakers in the West have raised alarms about TikTok and ByteDance potentially sharing sensitive user data with the Chinese government. They are also worried about China using TikTok’s content recommendations to spread misinformation, particularly during sensitive times like the Israel-Hamas conflict and the presidential election.

The ban on TikTok has already been implemented in more than 30 states and New York City, with colleges also blocking the app from campus networks. The Biden administration supports the legislation to force ByteDance to sell TikTok, citing national security concerns and potential data privacy issues.

However, the proposed ban could face legal challenges on First Amendment grounds, as TikTok has become a platform for free expression and political discourse. The exact mechanism for banning the app from privately owned phones is still unclear, but the pressure on TikTok to sell to an approved buyer is intensifying.

TikTok has criticized the bans as “political theater” and has urged users to oppose the restrictions. The company has also engaged in lobbying efforts to address national security concerns and promote its plan to operate in the United States while safeguarding user data.

As the battle over TikTok continues, the future of the popular app in the United States remains uncertain, with potential legal challenges and ongoing efforts to force ByteDance to divest ownership of the platform.