The US House of Representatives passed a bill on Saturday, with a vote of 360-58, potentially prohibiting the social media app TikTok, as reported by CNN. This marks another setback for TikTok in the US as it struggles to survive under its current ownership by ByteDance, its Chinese parent company, despite having 170 million users in the country.
The bill was included in a foreign aid package for Israel and Ukraine, similar to an earlier version passed in March, which would remove TikTok from US app stores unless it finds a new owner promptly. By linking the TikTok bill to funding for Israeli missile defense and Ukrainian military equipment, Republican lawmakers aimed to pressure the Senate to vote on the entire package together. Policy analysts anticipate swift consideration of the aid package by the US Senate, increasing the likelihood of its passage.
President Joe Biden has stated his intention to sign the TikTok legislation if it reaches his desk. The passage of the bill underscores how external policy priorities beyond TikTok’s control have converged to potentially jeopardize the app, popular among many young Americans, despite warnings from US officials about national security risks. The version of the bill approved on Saturday would grant TikTok 270 days to find a new owner, longer than the previous timeframe considered.
Additionally, the White House would have the authority to extend this deadline by another 90 days if progress towards a sale is observed. TikTok has voiced its opposition to the bill, launching a lobbying campaign to defeat it, arguing that it infringes on users’ First Amendment rights and harms small businesses. The company has suggested it may pursue legal action to block the legislation, emphasizing its commitment to continue fighting through legal means.