TikTok Ban Debate Intensifies in US House Amidst Data Security Concerns

On Wednesday, March 13th, the House of Representatives will debate legislation that could potentially ban TikTok in the United States. The bill, known as the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, aims to prohibit the video-sharing platform if its parent company, ByteDance, does not divest its stake within six months.

The bill has gained significant support, having passed unanimously through the House Energy and Commerce Committee on March 7th. President Joe Biden has indicated his willingness to sign the bill into law if it is passed by Congress. However, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has stated that the legislation requires further refinement before receiving the president's endorsement.

The move to ban TikTok stems from concerns raised by US lawmakers about the potential for the Chinese government to access user data through ByteDance. The FBI and Federal Communications Commission have expressed concerns that the company could share sensitive information, such as browsing history, location, and biometric identifiers, with the Chinese authorities. TikTok has denied these allegations, asserting that it has never shared user data with the Chinese government and would not do so if requested. The US government has not provided evidence to support its claims.

Former President Donald Trump has voiced his opposition to the ban, claiming that it would benefit Facebook, a rival social media platform. Trump had previously issued an executive action late in his presidency that aimed to ban TikTok and WeChat, but the order was later rescinded.