The House passing a bill that could shut down a social media platform is unprecedented. This move raises concerns among civil liberties advocates about free speech rights. TikTok sees this legislation as a major threat, but it’s not the first time it’s faced such challenges. What sets this apart? Here’s what you need to know.
What are the specifics of the House bill?
The bill requires ByteDance to sell TikTok within six months. If it fails to do so, app stores and web-hosting companies would be prohibited from offering TikTok, as long as it’s controlled by a “foreign adversary.” This would force Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their stores and require internet providers to block access to TikTok in the U.S. Users who already have the app wouldn’t lose it, but without updates, TikTok would become slow and unusable over time.
How will the House bill impact TikTok’s user base?
In the short term, TikTok users in the U.S. are unlikely to experience any changes. Even if a Senate companion bill is passed and signed into law by President Biden, there is a six-month deadline to sell the app, which could be extended by legal challenges. If TikTok does become illegal, users could use virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass restrictions, a method commonly used in countries like Russia and China where popular internet services are banned.
Which potential buyers might be interested in acquiring TikTok if ByteDance is required to sell the app?
Only a few companies, such as Google, Meta, Microsoft, or Amazon, could afford to buy TikTok, which is valued at tens of billions of dollars. However, the potential sale to a Big Tech firm raises antitrust concerns, given the Biden administration’s tough stance on tech mergers. Additionally, China would need to approve the sale, and talks about selling TikTok have been ongoing for years without a resolution.
What evidence supports the claim that TikTok poses a national security risk?
Top officials and lawmakers in Washington are concerned that TikTok could be exploited by the Chinese government for spying, spreading pro-China propaganda, or interfering in U.S. elections. However, no evidence has been presented to substantiate these fears.
Have there been recent events causing concern among officials in Washington?
Yes, there have been concerning developments. In 2022, ByteDance admitted that former employees, not government officials, had surveilled Americans on TikTok, including journalists critical of the company. Additionally, a former ByteDance executive stated in a court filing last year that the Chinese government had been granted a “superuser” credential on TikTok, allegedly using it to spy on Hong Kong protesters in 2018. While these incidents don’t directly indicate Chinese government espionage or disinformation campaigns on U.S. users, they have raised fears that Beijing could manipulate TikTok’s algorithm to influence what American users see.
How has TikTok responded to these concerns?
TikTok has consistently stated that it has never received a request for Americans’ data from Chinese authorities and would refuse such a request. The company has implemented “Project Texas,” transferring all U.S. user data to servers controlled by Oracle and subject to monitoring by U.S. third-party auditors. However, Chinese law mandates that companies must provide personal user data upon government request, leading U.S. national security officials to reject TikTok’s plan. The White House maintains that any action by TikTok, short of completely severing ties with China, is unacceptable.