The United States House of Representatives has passed a bill imposing restrictions on the popular social media application TikTok.
According to international media reports, the US House of Representatives approved a bill yesterday explicitly stating that if TikTok’s Chinese-based owners fail to divest their stake within one year restrictions will be imposed on the social media app in the United States.
This comes after a previous bill in March raised national security concerns giving the company a six-month deadline to either share data with the US or face repercussions.
TikTok responded to US actions by assuring authorities that American users data would not be shared with the Chinese government. However, the US is considering restrictions on TikTok to protect the constitutional rights of its citizens to freedom of expression.
The US Congress has granted Biden the authority to impose restrictions on TikTok.
Following approval by the US House of Representatives, the bill imposing restrictions on TikTok will now be presented to the Senate for final approval.
It is expected that voting on this bill will take place in the Senate next week with President Biden indicating his intention to sign the law.
This move reflects growing concerns globally over data privacy and security particularly regarding apps with ties to foreign governments. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, governments are taking proactive measures to safeguard their citizens information and rights.
