From Barchart:

President Joe Biden announced his intention to sign a bill giving China’s ByteDance six months to divest TikTok, as Donald Trump raised concerns about the popular app used by 170 million Americans. The House is set to vote on the bill, requiring a two-thirds majority for approval, following a committee’s unanimous support.

Biden stated he will sign the bill if it passes, with the legislation facing uncertainty in the Senate. Trump, who criticized TikTok banning, expressed concerns about Facebook’s potential growth if TikTok were removed. Former VP Mike Pence backed the bill, claiming China is negatively influencing American children.

The proposed legislation would require ByteDance to divest TikTok within 165 days, with potential consequences for app stores and web hosting services if not complied with. Previous attempts by Trump to ban TikTok were halted by courts in 2020. Republican Senator Rand Paul questioned the need for a ban, arguing it could resemble Chinese censorship practices.

Trump’s executive order in 2020 suggested TikTok’s data collection posed a threat, allowing Chinese access to personal information. The app denied sharing U.S. user data with China, declaring the House bill as a de facto ban. TikTok criticized the legislation as an attempt to restrict users’ free expression, raising concerns about the potential approval and completion of divestment in six months.



Read more at Barchart: Biden says he would sign TikTok crackdown, Trump raises concerns