Bipartisan Bill To Penalize App Stores Distributing Tiktok In The US

In response to mounting national security concerns, legislators have introduced a bipartisan bill targeting TikTok’s ties to its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. Spearheaded by Mike Gallagher and Raja Krishnamoorthi of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, the proposed Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act aims to prohibit app stores and web hosts from distributing TikTok unless it disassociates from ByteDance.

The bill outlines severe penalties for non-compliance, including fines for app stores calculated based on the number of US users accessing the platform.

The bill outlines severe penalties for non-compliance, including fines for app stores calculated based on the number of US users accessing the platform. Additionally, it grants the president authority to designate other social media companies from adversarial countries, expanding its scope beyond TikTok.

This legislative effort marks a significant step in addressing TikTok’s ownership concerns since the introduction of the RESTRICT Act. Crafted to avoid constitutional challenges, the bill provides ByteDance with a grace period for divestment and establishes a framework for broader application to other apps.

While TikTok asserts its commitment to safeguarding US user data, concerns persist over potential exploitation under Chinese law. TikTok representatives argue that the bill amounts to an outright ban, challenging its constitutionality and its impact on free speech and economic growth.

The bill’s fate remains uncertain amid bipartisan skepticism, particularly in an election year where TikTok serves as a pivotal campaigning tool.