The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that could potentially result in a nationwide ban of the popular social media platform, TikTok. The bill cites unfounded national security concerns due to its Chinese ownership and demands TikTok to divest from its Chinese parent company ByteDance or face exclusion from the American market.
Elon Musk Opposes TikTok Ban
Elon Musk, the owner of social media platform X, expressed his opposition to the potential TikTok ban in a post on Friday. Musk highlighted that the ban contradicts freedom of speech and expression.
TikTok Denies Data Sharing with Chinese Authorities
TikTok has repeatedly denied allegations of sharing US user data with Chinese authorities and has vowed never to engage in such activities. The platform has maintained its commitment to user privacy and data security.
Legal Challenges and Timeline Extensions
The bill, which includes a provision targeting TikTok within a foreign aid package, has faced legal challenges and potential timeline extensions. ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has indicated its intention to challenge the legislation in court if it passes, citing concerns about First Amendment rights of the app’s users.
The measure passed by the House with a vote of 360-58 now moves to the Senate after negotiations that have extended the sale timeline to nine months, with a possible additional three months if a sale is in progress.
