Lawmakers push for TikTok divestment amid national security concerns

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

HOUSE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ARE BACKING LEGISLATION THAT COULD FORCE TIKTOK’S PARENT COMPANY, BYTEDANCE, TO DIVEST THE APP OR FACE A U.S. BAN.

THE BILL IS CO-AUTHORED BY CHAIRMAN MIKE GALLAGHER AND RANKING MEMBER RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI AND AIMS TO ADDRESS NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS OVER CHINESE OWNERSHIP OF TIKTOK.

LAWMAKERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT TIKTOK’S POTENTIAL EXPLOITATION BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT FOR DATA ACCESS AND INFLUENCE. 

TIKTOK DENIES THESE CLAIMS.

IF THE BILL PASSES — BYTEDANCE WOULD HAVE TO DIVEST TIKTOK WITHIN 165 DAYS — OR MAJOR APP STORES LIKE APPLE AND GOOGLE WOULD BE PROHIBITED FROM OFFERING THE APP OR PROVIDING SERVICES TO BYTEDANCE-CONTROLLED APPLICATIONS.

THE LEGISLATION MARKS THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT MOVEMENT IN NEARLY A YEAR TOWARD ADDRESSING TIKTOK’S OWNERSHIP.

THE WHITE HOUSE SUPPORTS THE MEASURE AND URGES CONGRESS TO PASS COMPREHENSIVE BIPARTISAN PRIVACY LEGISLATION.

AN INITIAL VOTE IS EXPECTED THURSDAY.