US lawmakers vote 50-0 to force sale of TikTok despite angry calls from users

Enlarge / Tic Tac announcement has A Metro station In Washington, CC on March 30, 2023. Getty Pictures | Bloomberg

THE Home Trade Committee Today vote 50-0 has approve A Invoice that would be force Tic Tac owner ByteDance has sell THE business Or lose to access has THE WE market.

THE Protect Americans Since Stranger Opponent Control Applications Act "addresses THE immediate national security risks laid by Tic Tac And establishes A frame For THE Executive Fork has protect Americans Since future stranger opponent control applications," A Committee note said. "If A application East determined has be exploited by A business control by A stranger opponent - like ByteDance, Ltd., which East control by THE People Republic of China—the application must be ceded Since stranger opponent control In 180 days."

If THE Invoice pass In THE Home And Senate And East sign In law by President Biden, Tic Tac would be Ultimately be abandoned Since application stores In THE WE if It is owner doesn't sell. He Also would be lose to access has Based in the United States the Web accommodation service.

"If THE application East not yielded, entities In THE United States would be be forbidden Since distribute THE application through A application walk Or store And provide the Web accommodation services," THE Committee note said.

Chair: “PCC armed apps he controls"

THE Invoice was introduced on Tuesday And had 20 sponsors divide uniformly between Democrats And Republicans. Tic Tac exhorted It is users has demonstration THE Invoice, Sending in progress A notification that said, "Congress East planning A total to forbid of Tic Tac... To leave Congress know What Tic Tac means has You And say them has vote NO."

A lot users called the legislators desks has complain, Congress Staff said Policy. "It is SO SO bad. OUR Telephone(s) to have not stopped alarm. They are teenagers And old people saying they spend their entire day on THE application And We can't take he far," A Home GOP staff member was quoted as saying.

Home Trade Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) said that Tic Tac enlist users has call the legislators watch "In real time how THE Chinese Communist To party can militarize platforms as Tic Tac has manipulate THE American people."

"This East just A little taste of how THE PCC armed apps he controls has manipulate tens of millions of people has further their agenda. These apps here A clear national security threat has THE United States And require THE decisive action We will take Today," She said Before THE vote.

THE American Civil Freedoms union opposes THE Tic Tac Invoice, saying he "would be violate THE First of all Amendment rights of hundreds of millions of Americans WHO to use THE application has communicate And express themselves daily."

Bill sponsor: "It is not A to forbid"

Bill sponsor representative Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) Express anger has Tic Tac For narrative It is users that THE Invoice would be to forbid THE application completely, pointing out that THE Invoice would be only to forbid THE application if he is not it sold.

"If You In fact read THE Invoice, It is not A to forbid. It is A transfer", Gallagher said, according to has Policy. Gallagher Also said her Invoice puts THE decision "downright In THE hands of Tic Tac has to break up their relationship with THE Chinese Communist Party."

Tic Tac issued A statement call THE Invoice "A downright to forbid of Tic Tac, No matter how a lot THE authors to try has disguise he." THE Home Trade Committee replied has TikTok claim, call he "Again another lie."

While THE Invoice text could potentially wrap In other apps In THE future, he specifically...