On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that would require the popular video app TikTok to split from its Chinese parent company ByteDance or divest its U.S. operations.

According to Representatives Mike Gallagher and Raja Krishnamoorthi of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, the bipartisan Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act mandates that TikTok remove any foreign adversary influence, including requiring ByteDance to relinquish its ownership, within six months in order to continue operating in the United States.

According to a statement from lawmakers, TikTok could become independent from the control of CCP-owned ByteDance. However, if TikTok decides to keep this CCP influence, the app will no longer be available in U.S. app stores. In this scenario, TikTok would be solely responsible for any consequences.

This is the update on the current legislation and the upcoming actions in the United States Senate.

What is the reason for TikTok being investigated?

Caitlin Chin-Rothmann, a researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, expressed concern that TikTok may share users’ personal data with its parent company ByteDance, which could then potentially transfer it to the Chinese government.

Chin-Rothmann stated that there are concerns among certain lawmakers that the Chinese Communist Party may use TikTok’s algorithm for propaganda, but this has not been confirmed.

She stated that it’s possible in the future for the Chinese government to apply pressure, however, it’s not guaranteed.

What are TikTok’s comments on the new laws?

TikTok referred to the proposed legislation as a “ban” and has consistently refuted the accusations made against it. Last week, the company, now known as X, previously Twitter, released a statement stating that the proposed legislation has a predetermined result: a complete ban of TikTok in the US.

What is the perspective of lawmakers on the legislation?

Despite receiving numerous phone calls from concerned Americans about the potential loss of access to the social media app, the bill received strong bipartisan support from House Democrats and Republicans.

Last week, House Speaker Mike Johnson informed reporters that it is a significant bipartisan effort to address China, our biggest geopolitical adversary, who is deliberately weakening our economy and safety.

What is the current status of the Senate?

The bill may have a difficult journey to approval in the Senate, which is currently led by Democrats. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has stated that the bill will be reviewed by the relevant committees.

Schumer stated that he will consider their opinions regarding the bill and make a decision on the optimal course of action.

Several members of the Senate Democratic party, namely Mark Warner who serves as chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, have raised concerns regarding the legality of specifically targeting a social media application in a new law. Warner has proposed a different bill that would encompass a wider range of applications that gather personal information.

However, according to Warner, the TikTok application poses a significant threat to national security, as reported by CBS News on Sunday.

Warner stated that if one cannot understand how the Chinese Communist Party may manipulate the algorithm to reflect their own views, they do not comprehend the seriousness of the situation.

What are the thoughts of the top candidates for the 2024 presidential election on the proposed bill?

Although the Biden campaign recently joined TikTok as a way to engage with younger voters, the White House still supports the legislation.

The bill, according to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, guarantees that those who may cause harm do not have ownership.

Previous President Donald Trump, who at first proposed prohibiting the application in 2020, has now altered his position, claiming that if TikTok is inaccessible, Facebook will gain power.

During a phone interview with U.S. cable network CNBC this week, the anticipated 2024 Republican presidential candidate stated that TikTok has both its advantages and disadvantages. However, the aspect that is not desirable is that without TikTok, Facebook’s growth will be amplified.

What occurs once the bill is approved by the House?

Excluding potential constitutional issues surrounding limiting American citizens’ freedom of speech, the legislation may also face obstacles in terms of legal enforcement and could encounter opposition in U.S. courts.

According to Chin-Rothmann, China’s laws governing exports could potentially obstruct the sale of TikTok’s algorithm. It would be extremely challenging to divest, considering the logistics involved. TikTok is a major global corporation, which would require a buyer of significant size. This potential buyer would also need to have a strategic motive for purchasing TikTok, and the merger would need to avoid any antitrust liabilities in the US.

Source: voanews.com