US House passes bill to ban TikTok over national security concerns

The House of Representatives in the USA has passed a law potentially leading to TikTok being banned, resulting in the popular Chinese app being removed from app stores. The tension between China and the United States is escalating.

The House of Representatives voted on a bill targeting the Chinese app TikTok, citing American officials who argue it poses a threat to national security. In response, China has made a preemptive strike that has affected Americans, further straining the relations between the two countries.

Debates over blocking access to TikTok have been ongoing in the USA. American politicians accuse the app's creators of linking with the Chinese government, suggesting the platform may share user information with Beijing authorities.

In March of this year, the House passed a bill that would ban TikTok in the United States unless its owner, the Chinese company ByteDance, divests it to an entity unaffiliated with the Chinese government. This bill is part of a broader package of legislation, including much-needed aid for Ukraine.

Experts highlight that banning a globally used app comes with a variety of consequences and challenges politically, legally, and socially.

The current form of the legislation allows 270 days to find a new owner for TikTok. "The law also permits the White House to extend this period by another 90 days if the President of the USA believes progress is being made towards the sale," CNN reports. Following this, TikTok will have 165 days to appeal the decision.

It is unfortunate that the House of Representatives is using the cover of important foreign and humanitarian assistance to once again jam through a ban bill that would trample the free speech rights of 170 million Americans, devastate 7 million businesses, and shutter a platform that contributes $24 billion to the U.S. economy, annually - a statement from TikTok published on Wednesday on the platform X reads.