TikTok accused US senators of making a “default” vote to ban the platform in the US.
Next week, the US House of Representatives will vote on legislation that gives TikTok’s owner, China’s ByteDance, six months to sanitize the app. If it doesn’t, TikTok could be banned entirely in the United States, losing its 150 million user base in America.
In response, the app suggested the outcome of the vote was already decided and expressed concern that it would cost people their lives.
What TikTok says. TikTok said in a statement:
“This legislation has a predetermined outcome: a total ban on TikTok in the United States. The government is trying to strip 170 million Americans of their constitutional right to free speech.” “This will damage millions of businesses, deny artists an audience, and destroy the livelihoods of countless creators across the country.”
Why we care A ban on TikTok in the United States would significantly affect advertisers, especially those targeting Gen Z. This demographic favors TikTok over platforms like Google, making it a crucial channel for advertisers looking to reach this audience.
Security concerns. The vote comes to address national security concerns surrounding TikTok’s ownership. Because TikTok is owned by Chinese multinational ByteDance, it falls under China’s controversial cybersecurity laws. These laws, among other things, contain provisions that may require TikTok to provide US user data to the Chinese Communist Party upon request.
Forced to break ties? The bill will be put to a full House vote next week, following unanimous 50-0 approval by a cross-party group of 20 lawmakers who make up the Chinese Communist Party’s Select Committee on March 7 . However, the bill must receive approval from the Senate before becoming law. Announcing the result of the initial vote, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said X:
“The @HouseCommerce Committee just voted 50-0 to force TikTok to sever its ties to the Chinese Communist Party. I will bring this critical national security bill to the House for a vote next week.”
reaction TikTok, which has never shared, and would never share, US user data with the Chinese government, reacted to the initial vote results by asking its users to take action. Users received notifications prompting them to “call your representative now” and encouraging them to vote against the measure. This mobilization led to an increase in phone calls from users on Capitol Hill, with lawmakers reporting an influx of calls urging them not to support the measure.
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deep dive. Read TikTok’s statement in full for more information.
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