9-3-2024 (WASHINGTON) President Joe Biden has backed legislation that could result in the popular video-sharing app TikTok being banned in the United States. The legislation, which unanimously passed through the US House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday, calls on China’s ByteDance to divest its ownership of TikTok or potentially face a US ban. The move comes amid increasing concerns in Washington about protecting Americans’ data from falling into Chinese hands.
Biden, endorsing the legislation, stated, “If they pass it, I’ll sign it.” The White House provided technical support in drafting the bill, although press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre noted earlier that the TikTok legislation “still needs some work” before Biden’s endorsement.
Former President Donald Trump, a likely Republican nominee, expressed opposition to the ban, claiming it would benefit rival social media platform Facebook. This stance contradicts Trump’s earlier executive action, subsequently rescinded, aimed at banning TikTok and another app, WeChat.
The legislation has bipartisan support, with powerful Republicans like House Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise emphasizing national security concerns. The FBI and the Federal Communications Commission have warned about potential data sharing between ByteDance and the Chinese government, although no evidence has been provided.
The proposed legislation takes a two-pronged approach, requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok within 180 days or face prohibition in the US. It also establishes a process for the executive branch to block access to apps owned by foreign adversaries deemed a national security threat.
If enacted, the bill would effectively ban TikTok and other ByteDance apps from major app stores and web hosting services in the US. Despite national security concerns, Biden’s re-election campaign recently joined TikTok.
A recent poll by The Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reveals a divided American public on banning TikTok. Thirty-one percent favour a nationwide ban, 35% oppose it, and 31% are neutral. TikTok’s younger user base, numbering around 170 million in the US, tends to be less concerned about data sharing with China compared to the broader adult population.
