TikTok’s fate hangs in the balance

A bill has been passed in the US House of Representatives that would give TikTok’s Chinese owner ByteDance about six months period to divest the US assets of the app, or face a ban.

The development is the greatest threat to the app since the Trump administration.

The controversial bill passed 352-65 in a bipartisan vote. However, the bill will face a more uncertain path in the Senate where some members support a different approach for regulating foreign-owned apps that pose security concerns.

Senate will review the legislation, says Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

The development is the latest in Washington to respond to US national security concerns about China.

“This is a critical national security issue. The Senate must take this up and pass it,”

Taking to X, formerly known as twitter, No. 2 House Republican Steve Scalise said this is a critical national security issue and the Senate must take this up and pass it.

On the other hand, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, reacting the development, said the Biden administration also wanted to see the Senate take swift action.

Used by over 170 million Americans, TikTok’s fate has become a major issue in the US. Lawmakers have complained that their offices received huge number of phone calls from TikTok users who oppose the legislation.