US lawmakers advance bill to force TikTok to cut ties with Chinese owner
Al Jazeera
Critics say Beijing could force video-sharing app to share data on its US users and spread propaganda.
Lawmakers in the United States are moving ahead with proposals to ban TikTok unless it cuts ties with its Chinese parent company amid claims the platform could be used to spy on Americans and manipulate public opinion.
A US House of Representatives committee on Thursday voted 50-0 to advance the bill, setting it up for a likely full vote in the near future.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said on X that he would bring the “critical national security bill” to the House floor for a vote next week.
The bill, introduced by Republican Mike Gallagher, would give Beijing-headquartered ByteDance roughly six months to divest or face a ban.
The latest push to restrict TikTok comes after former President Donald Trump’s efforts to ban the app in 2020 were blocked by the courts.
