'Much needed': Internet backs US bill that could ban China-based TikTok app for security reasons

WASHINGTON, DC: The House passed a legislation on Saturday, April 20, that would ban TikTok in the United States if the popular social media platform's China-based owner doesn’t sell its stake within a year. However, it will be safe to say that the app is not expected to go away anytime soon.

The House of Representatives voted 360 to 58 on the updated divest-or-ban bill with the Senate being expected to vote on the bill next week and Joe Biden has said he will sign the legislation.

Michael McCaul, the author of the divest-or-ban bill said TikTok 'is a spy balloon'

“This bill protects Americans and especially America’s children from the malign influence of Chinese propaganda on the app TikTok. This app is a spy balloon in Americans’ phones,” said Texas Republican representative Michael McCaul, author of the bill, Bloomberg reports.

The updated TikTok bill comes as part of House Republican speaker Mike Johnson’s $95 billion foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, Guardian reports.

What did Senator Maria Cantwell say?

The passage of the updated version of the bill came after Maria Cantwell, chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, urged the House in March to revise the bill’s details, which now extends TikTok’s parent company ByteDance’s divestment period from six months to a year.

In a statement released on Tuesday, April 16, Cantwell said, “As I’ve said, extending the divestment period is necessary to ensure there is enough time for a new buyer to get a deal done. I support this updated legislation.”

Critics of the popular social media app argue that ByteDance, which is based in China, could collect user data and censor content that is critical of the Chinese government.

In March, Avril Haines, the director of national intelligence, warned in a House intelligence committee hearing that China could use TikTok to influence the US’s 2024 presidential elections.

TikTok stated it would not share US data with the Chinese government

TikTok has repeatedly said that it has not and would not share US user data with the Chinese government.

“TikTok is an independent platform, with its own leadership team, including a CEO based in Singapore, a COO based in the US and a global head of trust and safety based in Ireland,” the company said.

In response earlier this week to the House’s then-upcoming vote, TikTok wrote a post on social media expressing its displeasure at the bill and the US’s ability to “shutter a platform that contributes $24bn to the US economy, annually”.

Following the bill’s passage, TikTok said, “It is unfortunate that the House of Representatives is using the cover of important foreign and humanitarian assistance to once again jam through a ban bill that would trample the free speech rights of 170 million Americans,” NPR reports.

Internet reacts to the reports of TikTok possibly getting banned

Soon after the news broke out, netizens commented on the issue on various social media platforms.

"This is much needed. No company owned by an adversary should EVER be able to subvert the national security of a nation while at the same time profiting from that same nation," said one user.

"The United States is agonizing over the possibility of a ban, but India did it at a stroke. Indians adjusted quickly, and Instagram and YouTube built big audiences," stated another.

"Social media apps shouldn’t be banned due to political reasons," one opined while another asked, "Why not ban government officials from using the app instead?"

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.