TikTok's Fate Uncertain Amidst Bipartisan Bill and Ban Threat
Byline:
Date: March 14, 2024
Washington, D.C. - The House of Representatives has passed a bipartisan bill that could lead to TikTok being banned in the United States unless it severs ties with its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. The bill, which passed on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at 11:05 AM, gives ByteDance nine months to comply or face a nationwide ban on app stores.
The bill's passage marks the latest escalation in the ongoing saga between the U.S. government and TikTok, which has been under fire over concerns about its data collection practices and ties to the Chinese government. In March 2023, Senators Mark Warner (D-VA) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) attended a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing to discuss worldwide threats, including TikTok.
The bill faces an uncertain fate in the Senate, where it will need to pass before it can be sent to President Biden's desk. However, the House vote is a significant development and raises the possibility that TikTok could be banned in the U.S. if it does not comply with the bill's demands.
Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) spoke out against the bill before the final vote, arguing that the more pressing danger is the harm social media apps pose to children. However, the bill's proponents argue that TikTok poses a unique security threat due to its ties to the Chinese government.
The fate of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain, but the House vote is a clear indication that the government is taking a more aggressive stance towards the company. It remains to be seen whether the Senate will follow suit and whether TikTok will comply with the bill's demands or face a ban.
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