The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill on Wednesday that may result in a ban on popular social media app TikTok unless Chinese parent company ByteDance divests.
From The Daily Wire:
The legislation, known as the “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act,” was approved by a 352-65 vote. Fifty Democrats and 15 Republicans voted against the measure. The bill now heads to the Democrat-controlled Senate.
According to a press release from the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, the “bill prevents app store availability or web hosting services in the U.S. for ByteDance-controlled applications, including TikTok, unless the application severs ties to entities like ByteDance that are subject to the control of a foreign adversary, as defined by Congress in Title 10.”
The legislation demands ByteDance sell TikTok within 180 days of the bill being enacted, or risk having the app face a clampdown in the United States.
“In addition,” the release added, “the bill creates a process for the President to designate certain, specifically defined social media applications that are subject to the control of a foreign adversary — per Title 10 — and pose a national security risk. Designated applications will face a prohibition on app store availability and web hosting services in the U.S. unless they sever ties to entities subject to the control of a foreign adversary through divestment.”
“Today’s bipartisan vote to pass The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act demonstrates Congress’ opposition to Communist China’s attempts to spy on and manipulate Americans and signals our resolve to deter our enemies,” Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said in a post to X. “I urge the Senate to pass this bill and send it to the President so he can sign the bill into law.”
Communist China is America’s largest geopolitical foe and is using technology to actively undermine America’s economy and security. Apps like TikTok allow the Chinese Communist Party to push harmful content to our youth and engage in malign activities, such as harvesting the…
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) March 13, 2024
Chairman of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) delivered remarks before the vote to clear up a few misconceptions about the bill.
Watch Gallagher’s remarks below:
Chairman @RepGallagher floor speech in support of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.
“I also want to set the record straight on a few misconceptions about this bill: ⬇️
It DOES NOT apply to American companies. It ONLY applies to… pic.twitter.com/urbFpD9VeN
— Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (@committeeonccp) March 13, 2024