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A significant move took place on Thursday as a powerful House committee unanimously advanced a bill that could potentially lead to a nationwide ban on TikTok. This action, if enacted, would have far-reaching implications for approximately 170 million Americans who use the popular social media app.
The legislation, pushed forward by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, aims to sever ties between TikTok and its China-linked parent company, ByteDance. The primary concern underlying this move is the ongoing fear of potential Chinese government spying through the app.
Prohibition and Timeframe
The bill, if passed into law, would require TikTok’s removal from US app stores unless it successfully separates from ByteDance within 165 days, just a little over five months from now. Furthermore, app store operators such as Apple and Google would be barred from offering TikTok for download should ByteDance fail to comply. The bill also includes provisions that could apply similar measures to other apps “controlled by foreign adversary companies.”
Context and Motivation
This legislation represents one of the most assertive moves against TikTok since CEO Shou Chew’s testimony last year asserting that the app poses no threat to Americans. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the committee’s chair, emphasized the bill’s aim to protect Americans against potential threats from apps controlled by adversaries.
Rep. Frank Pallone, the committee’s ranking Democrat, drew parallels to prior efforts to regulate the US airwaves and highlighted recent testimony from national security officials regarding TikTok’s risk.
Bipartisan Support and Next Steps
Introduced with bipartisan backing by Rep. Mike Gallagher and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, the bill has garnered support from the White House and House Speaker Mike Johnson. Majority Leader Steve Scalise announced that the legislation will proceed to a floor vote next week.
However, its fate in the Senate remains uncertain. With no current companion bill and Senate Commerce Committee chair Sen. Maria Cantwell not firmly committing to advancing the proposal, the bill’s Senate journey is yet to be determined. Cantwell stated that she will be engaging in discussions with Senate and House colleagues to find a path forward that ensures constitutionality while safeguarding civil liberties.
Second Bill Advances: Limiting Sale of Americans’ Personal Data
In a related move, House lawmakers also unanimously approved a bill on Thursday aiming to restrict US companies’ ability to sell personal data of Americans to foreign adversaries. This legislation addresses concerns raised by US officials about the national security risks associated with the widespread availability of US citizens’ data, as well as the purchase of such data by domestic law enforcement agencies from commercial data brokers.