TikTok Slams US Bill Threatening Ban Over Chinese Ownership
TikTok's strong opposition to a US bill aiming to force the divestment of the video-sharing app from its Chinese owner, amidst concerns over national security and free speech rights.
In a defiant stance against looming legislative action, TikTok has vehemently criticized a bill aiming to force the divestment of the popular video-sharing platform from its Chinese parent company. The proposed legislation, which secured a resounding 360-58 bipartisan vote in the US House of Representatives, sets a nine-month timeline for ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese owner, to sever ties with the app.
The embattled social media giant, in a pointed statement, accused lawmakers of trampling on the fundamental right to free speech cherished by millions of Americans. TikTok's rebuttal comes hot on the heels of President Joe Biden signaling his readiness to endorse the bill, part of a broader legislative package earmarked for bolstering international aid.
Central to the concerns driving the bill's momentum is the perceived national security threat posed by TikTok, with both Republican and Democratic camps echoing apprehensions of potential data exploitation and foreign interference. TikTok, however, maintains its innocence, adamantly asserting that it has not and would not compromise American users' data to the Chinese government's designs.
The contentious nature of the bill has sparked a chorus of dissent from civil liberties advocates, including prominent organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union and The Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University. These voices, underlining the paramount importance of free speech, have emerged as staunch opponents of the proposed measures.
This legislative maneuvering marks a sequel to previous attempts to curtail TikTok's operations in the US, including a thwarted executive order signed by former President Donald Trump in 2020. Courts subsequently struck down the ban, citing violations of constitutional rights and procedural fairness.
As the bill now heads to the Senate, the fate of TikTok hangs in the balance, with its future trajectory poised at the intersection of geopolitical tensions and the safeguarding of individual freedoms.
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