America’s favorite social media app, TikTok, is facing a threat from Congress as President Joe Biden recently revealed that he would ban the app if Congress votes for it. The U.S. House has now, officially passed a bill to ban the app.
The general public, Donald Trump and China have reacted to this bill as many think it’s a ‘hegemonic’ move before the elections, while citizens are criticizing this action because a lot of influencers have been using the platform as a source of income.
TikTok About To Be Banned In U.S.
The House of Representatives passed a bill on Wednesday requiring ByteDance, the Chinese developer behind TikTok, to either sell the company or face removal from US app stores, putting the US one step closer to outlawing the app.
With 352 votes in favor and only 65 against, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act was enacted with resounding support among both parties.
The immensely popular social media platform’s addictive algorithm has led numerous House lawmakers to fear that the app could provide the Chinese government access to user data and the ability to influence Americans. The bill has the support of the White House, with President Joe Biden pledging to sign it into law should it pass Congress.
Many of the 170 million US users of TikTok, or almost half of the population, disagree with lawmakers and the White House. Digital rights and civil liberties organizations argue that a ban would violate the right to free speech.
In Case You Missed It: North West Shares Drawing Of Half-Naked Bianca Censori As On ‘Vultures’ Album Cover In A Now Deleted TikTok Video
What Does TikTok Say About The Ban?
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin addressed the ban and said, “In recent years, although the US has not found any evidence of TikTok threatening national security, it has never stopped going after TikTok. This practice of resorting to hegemonic moves when one cannot succeed in fair competition disrupts normal operations of businesses, undermines international investors’ confidence in the investment environment, sabotages the normal international economic and trade order, and will eventually backfire on the US itself.”
While a spokesperson for TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said, “This legislation has a predetermined outcome: a total ban of TikTok in the United States. The government is attempting to strip 170 million Americans of their Constitutional right to free expression.”
Content creators are revolting against a potential TikTok ban, encouraging their followers to mobilize and going offline to protest.
— Axios (@axios) March 13, 2024
• For many, losing the app would mean disconnecting from niche communities and a crucial source of information. https://t.co/0JnTydr4Xo
The general public too, has started protesting regarding the ban, with most of the protestors being content creators who have used the platform as a means of income.
While many think this move might cost Biden the upcoming elections, TikTok’s threat to privacy is an issue that has concerned other governments as well, which is why the app is banned in several countries.
Addressing the ban, President Biden said, “Do we want TikTok, as a platform, to be owned by an American company or owned by China? Do we want the data from TikTok – children’s data, adults’ data – to be going, to be staying here in America or going to China?”
You Might Like To Read:
