14-3-2024 (WASHINGTON) The House of Representatives passed a bill that would compel TikTok’s Chinese owner to either sell the immensely popular video app or face a ban in the United States. This move further intensifies the ongoing showdown between Beijing and Washington over control of critical technologies, raising concerns about national security, free speech, and the social media industry.
Republican leaders expedited the bill’s progress through the House, allowing limited debate, and it ultimately passed with a significant majority of 352 to 65 votes. The overwhelming support for the legislation reflects the widespread consensus among lawmakers to directly confront China, particularly in an election year.
Despite TikTok’s efforts to rally its 170 million American users against the measure, the House proceeded with the bill. The Biden administration has been actively persuading lawmakers about the severe national security risks posed by Chinese ownership of the platform, including the potential for election interference.
The outcome showcased a bipartisan coalition supporting the bill, with Republicans breaking ranks with former President Donald J. Trump to back the legislation, and Democrats falling in line behind a bill that President Biden has expressed his willingness to sign.
However, the bill’s path to becoming law faces challenges in the Senate. Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic majority leader from New York, has been noncommittal about scheduling a vote on the bill, and some lawmakers have vowed to oppose it. Furthermore, even if the bill manages to pass the Senate and become law, it is expected to encounter legal challenges along the way.
