House approves potential TikTok ban, Biden pledges to sign it

The House of Representatives made a bold move on Saturday, voting 360-58 in favor of a bill that could potentially ban the popular video sharing app TikTok in the United States. Lawmakers claim that TikTok, owned by ByteDance, poses a national security threat due to its Chinese ownership.

The bill includes a provision that would require ByteDance to sell TikTok within a year or face removal from app stores in the US. While users could still access the app from other sources, Chinese officials are expected to block any attempt to sell the app.

This legislation was part of a larger effort by the House to pass a supplemental foreign aid package providing military assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The bill also included sanctions on Russia and Iran.

President Joe Biden has indicated that he would sign a ban on TikTok into law if it reaches his desk. ByteDance would have 12 months to find a buyer or challenge the legislation in court if it is signed into law.

TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, has vowed to fight the legislation, launching a campaign to mobilize users to call their representatives and oppose the ban. This effort led to a flood of calls to congressional offices, with some lawmakers expressing concern and further polarization against the company.

The fate of TikTok in the US now rests on the Senate, where the bill is expected to pass in some form with bipartisan support. ByteDance is likely to challenge the legislation in court, as a previous attempt to ban the app under the Trump administration failed.