13 March 2024
WASHINGTON D.C. (The Hill) — The House passed a bill Wednesday designed to present an ultimatum to ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok. Under the measure, the company would have to sell the popular video platform or else face a ban in the U.S.
The bill had bipartisan support in the House, and President Biden has said he would sign the legislation if it reaches his desk. However passage in the Senate is not guaranteed.
Former President Trump, who attempted to ban TikTok in 2020, has nonetheless come out against this bill. Free speech advocates have voiced their own opposition to a ban.
The vote was 352 to 65 in favor of the bill. 155 Democrats and 197 Republicans voted yea while 50 Democrats and 15 Republicans voted nay. 7 Democrats and 7 Republicans did not vote, while one Democrat voted present.