House panel unanimously approves bill that could ban TikTok
Source: CNN
A powerful House committee advanced a bill on Thursday that could lead to a nationwide ban against TikTok on all electronic devices, renewing lawmakers challenge to one of the worlds most popular social media apps and highlighting unresolved fears that TikTok may pose a Chinese government spying risk.
The measure that sailed unanimously through the House Energy and Commerce Committee would prohibit TikTok from US app stores unless the social media platform used by roughly 170 million Americans is quickly spun off from its China-linked parent company, ByteDance.
If enacted, the bill would give ByteDance 165 days, or a little more than five months, to sell TikTok. If not divested by that date, it would be illegal for app store operators such as Apple and Google to make it available for download. The bill also contemplates similar prohibitions for other apps controlled by foreign adversary companies.
Its the most aggressive legislation targeting TikTok to come out of a congressional committee since company CEO Shou Chew testified to lawmakers last year that the app poses no threat to Americans.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/07/tech/congress-bill-bans-tiktok-america/index.html
It's a committee, not the full House, but it's still a step
underpants
(182,959 posts)🤔
Kennah
(14,348 posts)CloudWatcher
(1,851 posts)Not sure, but Zoom may be the bigger threat to national security.
PSPS
(13,624 posts)live love laugh
(13,171 posts)Srkdqltr
(6,357 posts)If the bill becomes law, almost certainly Byte Dance would divest and take what money or assets they could for it.
Still, TikTok's messaging to users was, "Shut down." No mention of the more likely option. That's malinformation, then again, it's TacTik. .
Kennah
(14,348 posts)I would not be surprised if there were behind the scenes conversations between lawmakers and TikTok execs firming up a divestiture plan.
PortTack
(32,813 posts)Reach young voters.
MichMan
(12,000 posts)Polybius
(15,514 posts)Trump just came out as opposing it.
qwlauren35
(6,150 posts)over 100 million young Americans use TikTok. BUT, TikTok has over 1 billion followers. That says that the US market share is not that significant. So often, we forget that we are a global economy and the Internet is everywhere.
ByteDance has absolutely no reason to divest of TikTok. And Gen Z voters will be absolutely pissed... at Joe Biden. Dumb move. Do it in the second term.
womanofthehills
(8,795 posts)Many make their living on TicToc. TicToc generates billions in revenues.