The House of Representatives of the United States passed a bill with 352 votes in favor and 65 against, aiming to prohibit the Chinese social media platform TikTok. Now the Bill will be presented to the US Senate and if it also passes the bill it will be sent to the White House for the President’s signature.
With nearly 170 million users, TikTok’s influence has become significant in the US. Congressman Greg Murphy’s office highlighted India’s decision in 2020 to ban 59 Chinese-origin apps, including TikTok, citing concerns over national security.
Expressing similar apprehensions, Murphy asserted that TikTok serves as a tool for China to target, surveil, and manipulate American citizens. He raised concerns over the app’s data collection practices, alleging that sensitive user data is shared with the Chinese Communist Party and its intelligence services. Under its current ownership, TikTok poses a substantial threat to national security, according to Murphy.
Why is TikTok getting banned in the US?
Lawmakers in the US have resumed discussions regarding the potential prohibition of Chinese social media applications, such as TikTok, which has amassed millions of American users. This action stems from concerns over national security, which are tied to its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
According to the bill, ByteDance must either divest from TikTok within 165 days or exit the American market. The continuation of TikTok’s operations in the US is contingent upon ByteDance’s decision to sell its interests. Additionally, the House bill specifies that for TikTok to remain active in the US, ByteDance must surrender its coveted algorithm, which customizes content based on user preferences.
Previous attempts to ban TikTok, notably by then-US President Donald Trump in 2020, were thwarted by US courts. Despite earlier efforts being hindered by vigorous lobbying from ByteDance, the issue has resurfaced, signaling a renewed push toward a potential ban.
TikTok Users in the US
At least once a month, 37.36 percent of US mobile internet users access TikTok. This indicates that over three-quarters of mobile internet users in the US are actively using TikTok. Over 50 million people use TikTok every day. Of all Americans with mobile internet access, 18.68 percent hop on TikTok daily.
While the US moves closer to banning the app, there has been discontent among certain users, particularly small business owners who relied on TikTok for product promotion. Additionally, reactions on Twitter suggest that some believe the US should prioritize addressing more pressing issues.