Lawmakers push for TikTok divestment amid national security concerns

Mar 6

Lauren Taylor Reporter

By Lauren Taylor (Reporter), Jake Maslo (Video Editor)

This report was created with support from enhanced software.

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House Republicans and Democrats are rallying behind legislation that may compel TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to divest or face a U.S. ban. The bill, co-authored by Chairman Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., aims to tackle national security concerns surrounding Chinese ownership of TikTok.

Lawmakers are expressing worries about TikTok’s susceptibility to potential exploitation by the Chinese government for data access and influence. TikTok denies the allegations.

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Should the bill pass, ByteDance would be required to divest TikTok within 165 days, or major app stores like Apple and Google would be barred from offering the app or servicing ByteDance-controlled applications.

This legislation marks the first significant progress in nearly a year toward addressing TikTok’s ownership.

The White House stands behind the measure and urges Congress to enact comprehensive bipartisan privacy legislation.

An initial vote is anticipated on Thursday, March 7.

Tags: ByteDance, China, House of Representatives, Mike Gallagher, TikTok

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

HOUSE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ARE BACKING LEGISLATION THAT COULD FORCE TIKTOK’S PARENT COMPANY, BYTEDANCE, TO DIVEST THE APP OR FACE A U.S. BAN.

THE BILL IS CO-AUTHORED BY CHAIRMAN MIKE GALLAGHER AND RANKING MEMBER RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI AND AIMS TO ADDRESS NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS OVER CHINESE OWNERSHIP OF TIKTOK.

LAWMAKERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT TIKTOK’S POTENTIAL EXPLOITATION BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT FOR DATA ACCESS AND INFLUENCE.

TIKTOK DENIES THESE CLAIMS.

IF THE BILL PASSES — BYTEDANCE WOULD HAVE TO DIVEST TIKTOK WITHIN 165 DAYS — OR MAJOR APP STORES LIKE APPLE AND GOOGLE WOULD BE PROHIBITED FROM OFFERING THE APP OR PROVIDING SERVICES TO BYTEDANCE-CONTROLLED APPLICATIONS.

THE LEGISLATION MARKS THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT MOVEMENT IN NEARLY A YEAR TOWARD ADDRESSING TIKTOK’S OWNERSHIP.

THE WHITE HOUSE SUPPORTS THE MEASURE AND URGES CONGRESS TO PASS COMPREHENSIVE BIPARTISAN PRIVACY LEGISLATION.

AN INITIAL VOTE IS EXPECTED THURSDAY.