The House of Representatives recently passed a bill aimed at addressing concerns regarding TikTok's ownership by foreign adversaries. The bipartisan-introduced Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which has been commonly referred to as a TikTok "ban," does not outright outlaw the app but instead requires any company owned by a foreign adversary to divest or sell to a US-based company within 180 days in order to continue operating in the country.
While the bill passed in a bipartisan manner, there have been differing opinions within political parties regarding its implications. President Joe Biden has expressed his support for the legislation and has indicated that he would sign it into law if it passes in the Senate. Former President Donald Trump, on the other hand, recently voiced his opposition to the bill, despite his previous efforts to get ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, to sell the app during his presidency.
The future success of the bill in the Senate is uncertain, as several senators from both parties have raised concerns about its specificity in targeting TikTok and ByteDance. Senate Democrats have previously introduced a similar bill aimed at addressing TikTok, which may resurface in light of the current legislation moving through Congress.
TikTok CEO Shou Chew personally lobbied against the legislation during a visit to the Capitol, while a spokesperson for the company expressed a defeatist attitude towards the bill, stating that it has a predetermined outcome of a total ban of TikTok in the US.
Overall, the passage of the bill in the House represents a significant step towards addressing national security concerns related to TikTok's ownership. The outcome of the legislation in the Senate remains uncertain, with various stakeholders expressing differing opinions on its potential impact.