The Energy and Commerce Committee in the US House of Representatives has unanimously approved legislation that would expedite a vote next week on measures requiring China’s ByteDance to divest from the short video app TikTok within six months or face a US ban. The 50-0 committee vote signifies significant momentum for a US crackdown on TikTok, with about 170 million US users. The proposed legislation aims to address national security concerns related to Chinese ownership of the app. TikTok argues the bill amounts to a ban, emphasizing potential damage to businesses and creators’ livelihoods. The legislation has White House support, but its impact on Tencent’s WeChat remains uncertain.
US house committee unanimously approves fast-tracking legislation targeting TikTok’s bytedance.
