The United States House of Representatives recently voted to ban the popular short-form video app TikTok unless it is sold to a government-approved buyer. The Senate is expected to vote on the legislation soon, with President Biden likely to support it. Lawmakers are concerned about data security and China’s potential influence through TikTok. The bill would give TikTok up to a year to find a buyer and impose sanctions on Iran.
The pressure on TikTok has been building for over a year due to concerns about China’s access to user data and potential misinformation spread through the platform. Critics worry about TikTok’s ties to China and its impact on American users. Many states and institutions have already banned TikTok on government-issued devices due to security concerns. Efforts to force a sale of TikTok to a U.S. government-approved buyer have raised speculation about potential buyers and concerns about freedom on the internet.
The ban would target app stores, such as Apple and Google, that distribute or update TikTok, as well as internet hosting companies. The push for a sale has generated speculation about potential buyers, including a group of investors led by former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. The Biden administration supports the legislation, seeking to address national security concerns related to TikTok and ByteDance’s relationship with the Chinese government. TikTok has denied allegations of privacy breaches and has engaged in lobbying efforts to address security concerns.
A broader ban on TikTok that would block American users from accessing the app could face legal challenges on First Amendment grounds. Most existing TikTok bans have been put in place by governments and universities, but a government-imposed ban on American users could be more challenging to justify. Apple and other companies operating app stores have the ability to block downloads of certain apps but may face legal hurdles in removing installed apps from users’ phones.
TikTok has criticized the bans as “political theater” and engaged in lobbying efforts to address security concerns. The company has urged users to call lawmakers to oppose a TikTok ban and has continued to defend its platform against allegations of privacy breaches. The ongoing debate around TikTok highlights concerns about data security, China’s role in the tech industry, and the potential impact on digital rights and freedom on the internet.
