According to CNBC.COM The House of Representatives passed a bill that would force Chinese tech firm ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a nationwide ban, with a two-thirds majority after it gained broad bipartisan support.
KEY FACTS…
The bill was fast-tracked and approved around 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, with 349 representatives voting yes, 66 voting no, one voting present and 14 not voting.
The ban was approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee by a rare 50-0 vote, gaining bipartisan support from the committee’s Republican and Democratic leaders.
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said in a statement the bill was “designed to address legitimate national security and privacy concerns,” echoing the support it has already received from Republican leaders including Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La.
President Joe Biden expressed some support for the ban, telling reporters last week “if they pass it, I’ll sign it,” but his re-election campaign also joined the app last month, and has been posting videos featuring the president.
Former President Trump came out against the ban, which he claimed would “double” the business for Facebook and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who he called a “true Enemy of the People.”
It is currently unclear if the bill will pass in the Senate, where TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is reportedly lobbying on behalf of his company today.
