TikTok, the popular video-sharing app owned by Chinese company ByteDance, has failed to stop a bill that could ban the app from US app stores from advancing in Congress. The bill, called the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, was passed by the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday, with bipartisan support. The bill will now move to the House floor for a vote.
The bill aims to protect US national security and data privacy from foreign apps that are controlled by adversaries such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The bill would give the president the authority, through the FBI and intelligence agencies, to designate certain apps as national security threats, and to prohibit them from being downloaded or hosted by US platforms. The bill would also give the app owners 180 days to divest from the foreign entities or face a ban.
The bill is co-sponsored by Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., who are the leaders of the select committee on the Chinese Communist Party. They said that the bill is necessary to counter the growing influence and interference of China and other adversaries in the US digital space. They also said that the bill is a response to the inaction of the Biden administration, which has not yet announced its policy on TikTok and other Chinese apps.
A Pushback from TikTok
TikTok, which has more than 150 million users in the US, has opposed the bill, arguing that it is unconstitutional and discriminatory. TikTok said that the bill would violate its free speech and due process rights, and that it would harm millions of Americans who use the app for entertainment, education, and business. TikTok also said that the bill is based on unfounded allegations and political motives, and that it ignores the measures that TikTok has taken to protect its users’ data and privacy.
TikTok has also tried to mobilize its users and creators to lobby against the bill, by sending push notifications and messages to urge them to contact their representatives and voice their opposition. TikTok said that the bill would damage the livelihoods and careers of many creators and influencers who rely on the app for income and exposure. TikTok also said that the bill would deprive the users of their choice and diversity in the online market.
TikTok has also sought to distance itself from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, and to demonstrate its independence and transparency. TikTok has hired an American CEO, established a US-based board of directors, and created a US-based trust to store its data. TikTok has also proposed a deal with Oracle and Walmart, which would create a new US-based entity, TikTok Global, that would oversee its operations in the US and other countries. However, the deal has not been finalized or approved by the US or Chinese governments.
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A Challenge for the US and China
The bill is the latest development in the ongoing saga of TikTok and its fate in the US, which has been marked by twists and turns, lawsuits and appeals, and negotiations and delays. The bill is also a reflection of the broader tensions and rivalry between the US and China, which have clashed over trade, technology, human rights, and regional security. The bill is also a challenge for the Biden administration, which has to balance its strategic and economic interests with its democratic and ethical values.
The bill is expected to face more hurdles and opposition before it becomes law, as it has to pass the House, the Senate, and the president’s signature. The bill is also likely to face legal challenges and appeals from TikTok and other affected parties, who may argue that the bill is unconstitutional, unfair, and harmful. The bill is also likely to have implications and repercussions for the US-China relations, as well as for the global internet governance and order.
