TikTok has called out the House of Representatives for tying legislation that could lead to a nationwide ban of the social media platform with aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The company stated that this move violates Americans’ First Amendment rights and would have a devastating impact on millions of businesses and the U.S. economy. Speaker Mike Johnson plans to bring aid packages for these countries to a vote, along with updated TikTok legislation, in an effort to garner support from his Republican colleagues.
The House previously approved a bill that would require ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to sell its stake in the platform within six months or risk a ban. The updated legislation extends this divestment period to 12 months, a change that has received support from Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell. The package that will be brought to a vote on Saturday includes other foreign policy proposals, such as seizing frozen assets from Russia’s central bank to aid Ukraine.
President Joe Biden has indicated that he would sign the bill targeting TikTok if it reaches his desk. However, the legislation is expected to face legal challenges even if it becomes law. TikTok has been vocal in its opposition to the ban and has faced scrutiny over its ties to Beijing. Concerns have been raised about the platform’s data-sharing practices and potential national security risks. Former President Donald Trump previously attempted to ban TikTok but was blocked by the courts, and he has since changed his stance on the platform.
Some prominent figures, such as Steve Mnuchin, former Treasury secretary under Trump, have expressed interest in acquiring TikTok. Mnuchin has stated that he believes the platform should be owned by U.S. businesses and that the Chinese government would not allow a U.S. company to operate a similar platform in China. The ongoing controversy surrounding TikTok highlights the challenges posed by the intersection of technology, national security, and foreign policy. It remains to be seen how the situation will evolve and what impact it will have on the future of the platform.
