US House of Representatives Passes Bill Requiring TikTok’s Parent Company to Divest or Risk App Ban

The bill, which gives six months to TikTok’s parent company to divest from the company or face a ban on the app, has been passed with an majority in the House of Representatives, with 352 representatives voting in favor of the proposed law and 65 against.

Legislation Passed by US House Mandates Divestment from TikTok’s Parent Company or Enforces Ban

The ban has evoked a sharp response from China, who said that the U.S. was acting in an unjust manner and behaving like a bandit.

The bill sailed smoothly through the House of Representatives, but the going will not be smooth in the Senate, although Joe Biden has said that he will sign the bill if it is passed by Congress.

China has said that it will do everything to protect its interests. TikTok is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, a Beijing-based firm registered in the Cayman Islands, and the bill has been tabled on fears that the data of American users will be in Chinese hands, constituting a security risk.

The charges have been rejected by China.

However, TikTok’s denial has not impressed the US legislators, especially after CEO Chew’s testimony before Congress last year, which was labeled insufficient and failed to allay the fears of Chinese influence over the app.

TikTok is banned in China, and the Chinese population uses a local app which is censored and controlled by the Chinese Government.

This is also one of the arguments that have been put forth while bringing this bill.

The Chinese government will never allow any American company to control a Chinese company, so how can a Chinese company be allowed to control an American Company?

Beijing has reacted angrily to the latest developments. Republican Donald Trump, who had earlier supported the move, made a U-turn and now feels that the bill is not correct.

It is also not clear if the bill will clear Congress or it will be placed before it for a vote. It is possible that the present status quo will be maintained.

The bill has evoked mixed responses, with a section of the American population welcoming it. However, a sizable section is also opposing it and contends that it will put more than 300,000 American jobs at risk and risk billions of dollars from the pockets of creators and small businesses.

Meanwhile, TikTok’s Mr. Chew has urged the platform’s users to speak against the move.

Many Congress members are complaining that their offices have been inundated with messages from angry users.

However, this move by Chew has not gone well with some Congress members who have accused the platform of using technology to sway people’s opinions and proves that the platform can be used as a tool of propaganda.

Members also allege that the parent company based in China, which controls TikTok, is influenced by the Chinese Communist Party.

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