TikTok, a popular short-form video app owned by the Chinese technology company ByteDance, is getting increased attention from US politicians as national security worries continue to grow.
On Wednesday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee decided to approve a bill that, according to House Republicans, would authorise the administration of President Joseph Biden to ban TikTok nationwide. The bill, dubbed as the Deterring America’s Technological Adversaries Act, was expected to be approved by the committee after its chairman, Republican Rep. Michael McCaul, proposed it last week.NYSC Portal
During Tuesday’s debate on the bill, McCaul referred to TikTok as a “spy balloon” on children’s smartphones. “If it’s too dangerous to be on our phones as members of Congress, in my judgement it’s too dangerous to be on our children’s phones,” he said.Information Guide Nigeria
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Democrats asserted that the legislation is being rushed, is fuelled by fear and rumour, and might hurt firms other than TikTok. The American Civil Liberties Union opposes the bill, claiming in a blog post that House 1153 would impede free speech and expression. The committee passed the bill on a party-line vote of 24 to 16, paving the way for a vote on the House floor.
Although if the bill is a long way from becoming law, the rapid advancement of the legislation demonstrates the growing momentum in the United States to prohibit TikTok. Legislators and the US government have continued to voice concern regarding the information TikTok collects and shares about its 100 million American users per month.JAMB Result
In a statement released Wednesday, TikTok said a US ban would be a “ban on the export of American culture and values to the billion-plus people who use the service worldwide.”
“We’re disappointed to see this rushed piece of legislation move forward, despite its considerable negative impact on the free speech rights of millions of Americans who use and love TikTok,” TikTok tweeted.
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