The House votes for a possible ban on TikTok in the United States, but don't expect the app to disappear anytime soon

WASHINGTON — The House passed legislation Saturday that would ban TikTok in the United States if the popular social media platform's Chinese owner doesn't sell its stake within a year, but don't expect the app to disappear anytime soon.

The decision by House Republicans to include TikTok as part of a broader foreign aid package, a priority of President Joe Biden with broad congressional support for Ukraine and Israel, has accelerated the ban after an earlier version stalled in the Senate. A standalone bill with a six-month sales deadline passed the House in March by an overwhelming bipartisan vote as both Democrats and Republicans voiced national security concerns about the app's owner, Chinese technology company ByteDance Ltd.

The amended measure, passed by a vote of 360 to 58, now goes to the Senate after negotiations that resulted in a compromise.

Even if the legislation becomes law, the company would have up to a year to find a buyer and would likely attempt to challenge the law in court, arguing that it would deprive the app's millions of users of their First Amendment rights . Legal challenges could significantly delay the timetable set by Congress or prevent the law from taking effect.

The company lobbied against the legislation, prompting the app's 170 million U.S. users — many of whom are young — to call Congress and voice their opposition. But the ferocity of the response has angered lawmakers on Capitol Hill, where there are widespread concerns about Chinese threats against the United States and few members use the platform themselves.

“We will not stop fighting and defending your interests,” TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said in a video posted on the platform last month and aimed at users of the app. “We will continue to do everything we can, including exercising our legal rights, to protect this incredible platform we have built with you.”

The bill's rapid journey through Congress is extraordinary because it targets one company and because Congress has taken a hands-off approach to technology regulation for decades. Lawmakers have failed to act despite efforts to protect children online, safeguard user privacy and make companies more accountable for content posted on their platforms, among other measures.

The TikTok ban reflects lawmakers' widespread concerns about China.

Members of both parties, as well as intelligence officials, fear that Chinese authorities could force ByteDance to hand over U.S. user data or order the company to remove or boost TikTok content favorable to its interests. TikTok has denied claims that it could be used as a tool by the Chinese government and said it has not shared US user data with Chinese authorities.

The U.S. government has not publicly provided evidence showing that TikTok shared U.S. user data with the Chinese government or tinkered with the company's popular algorithm, which influences what Americans see.

The company has good reason to believe legal action could be successful, having enjoyed some success in previous legal battles over its U.S. operations. In November, a federal judge blocked a Montana law that would ban the use of TikTok statewide after the company and five content creators who use the platform sued.

In 2020, federal courts blocked an executive order issued by then-President Donald Trump banning TikTok after the company sued on the grounds that the executive order violated free speech and the right to due process. His administration negotiated a deal that would have allowed U.S. companies Oracle and Walmart to take a significant stake in TikTok. The sale never happened for several reasons; one of them was China, which imposed stricter export controls on its technology suppliers.

Dozens of states and the federal government have implemented bans on TikTok on government devices. The Texas ban was challenged last year by Columbia University's Knight First Amendment Institute, which argued in a lawsuit that the policy hindered academic freedom because it extended to public universities. In December, a federal judge ruled in favor of the state.

Organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union have supported the app. “Congress cannot take away the rights of the more than 170 million Americans who use TikTok to express themselves, engage in political activity and access information from around the world,” said Jenna Leventoff, an attorney for the group .

Since mid-March, TikTok has spent $5 million on television ads opposing the legislation, according to AdImpact, an ad tracking company. The ads included a number of content creators, including a nun, touting the platform's positive impacts on their lives and arguing that a ban would trample on the First Amendment. The company also encouraged its users to contact Congress, and some lawmakers received rude calls.

“It is regrettable that the House of Representatives is using the guise of significant foreign and humanitarian aid to once again pass a ban bill that would trample the free speech rights of 170 million Americans , would devastate 7 million businesses and shut down a platform that contributes $24 billion annually to the U.S. economy,” said Alex Haurek, a spokesperson for the company.

Nadya Okamoto, a content creator who has about 4 million followers on TikTok, said she had conversations with other creators who felt “so much anger and anxiety” about the bill and its impact on their lives. The 26-year-old, whose company “August” sells menstrual products and is known for her advocacy to destigmatize menstruation, makes most of her income from TikTok.

“This is going to have real repercussions,” she said.

Copyright 2024 by Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Sources 1/ https://Google.com/ 2/ https://abc7chicago.com/house-of-representatives-passed-foreign-aid-bills-that-includes-tiktok-ban-provision-and-to-taiwan/14702642/ The mention sources can contact us to remove/changing this article

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos