US House demands TikTok sale by ByteDance to protect privacy

The US has taken concrete steps against TikTok. The United States House of Representatives voted on a bill that poses a serious ultimatum to the app's owner, the Chinese company ByteDance. TikTok has spoken out on the pressing matter.

The United States has made it a point of honor to wage war against TikTok. It appears, US politicians have been active in their efforts. The House of Representatives passed a bill aimed directly at the app with minimal opposition. The votes in favour were 352, and those against were only 65 congressmen. Both Republicans and Democrats were surprisingly unanimous in their stance on TikTok.

But what is the US's action really about? The States are demanding that ByteDance sell the app - otherwise, they threaten to block access to it, effectively banning TikTok in America. It's worth noting that not only regular users would suffer - the ban would most affect creators who have built their careers there, potentially leading to a loss of income.

According to the United States, the conflict revolves around sovereignty over technologies that impact national security and free speech. The US has raised concerns about the alleged connections of ByteDance with the Chinese government and is trying to pressure the app to be sold to owners without such connections.

"This bill does not ban TikTok but merely requests its divestiture by ByteDance, so that this social media platform is owned by an American company. This would protect the data and privacy of American consumers against the sinister foreign interests of the Communist Party of China," conveyed Democrat leader Hakeem Jeffries.

The platform's CEO Shou Zi Chew issued a statement on social media. In the video, he highlighted the extensive use of TikTok in the US and the significant impact the app has on the economy, including tools for promotion and enhancing competitiveness.

"This process has been secretive, and the bill was pushed through for one reason: it is effectively a ban. We hope the Senate will consider the facts, listen to their voters, and realize the impact on the economy, seven million small businesses, and 170 million Americans who use our service," said the TikTok representative after the vote.

In a statement to the portal vibez.pl, TikTok clearly emphasized its no connection with the Chinese government. The app also indicated that it is taking actions regarding data protection and countering misinformation.

"TikTok is used by over a billion people worldwide, and neither TikTok nor its parent company are owned by China. TikTok is not even available in China, and it is not true that the platform is under the influence of the Chinese government," conveyed TikTok's Press Office. "TikTok has never shared nor received a request to share user data with the Chinese government - nor would it do so if asked," reads further in the statement.

Furthermore, the company assures that as part of the Project Clover, it is strengthening its approach to data security in Europe. TikTok declares that it is tightening data access controls and collaborating with an external European company for audit, monitoring, and independent verification.