Congress Passes Bill to Potentially Ban TikTok in the U.S.
In a move that could have significant implications for over 150 million Americans who use TikTok, Congress has passed a bill that could result in the popular app being banned in the United States. President Joe Biden signed the bill into law on Wednesday, following overwhelming support from the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The legislation requires TikTok to divest from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, within 270 days. Failure to do so would result in the app being banned from app stores and web-hosting services. The bill also grants the president the authority to designate other social media applications with ties to foreign governments as national security risks.
Lawmakers have expressed concerns about TikTok’s potential to conduct surveillance on Americans and influence U.S. elections. The bill is seen as a way to address these national security risks and regulate the influence of foreign governments in the tech sector.
While TikTok has vowed to challenge the law in court, the company has also taken steps to address data security concerns. In a partnership with Oracle, TikTok has ensured that all new U.S. user data is stored in the U.S. Cloud infrastructure and managed by the TikTok US Data Security team.
Despite TikTok’s efforts to address concerns, the ban could have far-reaching consequences for users, businesses, and free expression. As the legal battle unfolds, TikTok remains committed to providing a platform where Americans can share their experiences, find joy, and be inspired.