House Bans TikTok in the U.S., Sends Bill to Senate

The House of Representatives has officially passed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. This bill, introduced by Representative Mike Gallagher (R-WI) will prohibit the “distributing, maintaining, or providing internet hosting services for a foreign adversary controlled application (e.g., TikTok)."

The bill will shut down TikTok in the United States if ByteDance, the parent company, doesn’t divest from the application 165 days after the bill’s passage, according to Fox News.

It would also require a non-foreign adversary to purchase TikTok if it wants to remain in operation in the United States.

The legislation needed two-thirds support to advance from the lower chamber. It passed with a 352-65 tally.

Congressman Greg Steube provided a lengthy thread on social media with a rationale for why TikTok is “a dangerous app,” but wasn’t super thrilled with the bill’s contents.

“There is no doubt about it: TikTok is a dangerous app controlled by Chinese interests. However, that does not mean the bill in front of the House today is the appropriate solution to the national security threat TikTok imposes. I’ve read the bill and am extremely concerned its text could be weaponized against conservatives and social media sites like X and Truth Social … ‘Controlled by a foreign adversary’ is defined in section 2(g)(1). In subsection (C), things get really problematic. It says that ‘controlled by a foreign adversary’ can also include ‘a person subject to the direction or control of a foreign person or entity.’”

Rep. Steube continued, “If subjection (C) was removed from this bill, I would be supportive of this bill. But the fact is, this bill gives tremendous leeway to the executive branch to determine what this phrase means, and ambiguity in the law opens the door to abuse. It goes beyond TikTok and foreign adversaries. It has the potential to affect American owned companies.”

However, other Republicans such as Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) were supportive of the measure, taking a shot at TikTok that implored users to flood elected legislators to protect TikTok in the U.S.

“Your freedom to create is at risk! Message TikTok Support & tell them ByteDance should save TikTok U.S. by selling it to a company not controlled by the Chinese government,” said Sen. Rubio.

The Senate will need to pass the measure to send it to the President’s desk.

This is a developing story.