ALBAWABA- The US House of Representatives has passed a bill with a strong majority, signaling a potential ban on TikTok unless the short-form video platform's Chinese owner divests from its operations.
The move comes amidst growing concerns about data privacy and national security, with fears that ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, could be compelled by the Chinese government to hand over user data.
While thousands of Americans rely on TikTok for various purposes, including sharing resources and earning income, lawmakers argue that the app's ties to China pose significant risks.
The bill faces an uncertain future in the Senate, but proponents stress the need to address potential threats to national security.
Critics point to China's National Security Law, which requires organizations and citizens to support state intelligence work, raising concerns about ByteDance's obligations.
Despite TikTok's assurances that user data is stored outside of China and not shared with Chinese authorities, skepticism remains regarding the company's ability to resist government pressure.
