The US House of Representatives is taking steps to ban the popular social media platform TikTok due to concerns over its ties to China and potential misuse of user data. The proposed ban has raised concerns about the impact on freedom of speech and the ability of individuals to express themselves online. As the debate continues, the future of TikTok in the United States hangs in the balance.

Washington

The US House of Representatives has passed a bill aimed at banning the widely used social media platform, TikTok. The legislative action is motivated by concerns related to TikTok's connections to China and fears regarding the potential for misuse of user data. This has prompted a significant amount of dialogue surrounding the proposed ban.

Critics of the proposed ban are worried about its implications for freedom of speech and the capacity for online self-expression. As discussions progress, the resolution of TikTok's operational status in the United States remains uncertain, reflecting the complexity of the issue at hand.



U.S. House passes bill that would ban TikTok

The bill is passed and without the objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. The moment the U.S. House of Representatives took a step towards banning TikTok, the Chinese owners of the social media app used by around 170 million Americans would have six months to sell its U.S. operation or face a nationwide ban. Critics argue the company works too closely with the Chinese Communist Party and could seize U.S. user data and even push a political agenda. You wouldn't allow a radio tower owned by the Chinese to be put up right in the middle of Washington, D.C. and then allow it to just put out Chinese propaganda. You'd probably complain about that. That's exactly what TikTok can be used for. Tell Congress to not ban TikTok. TikTok saw the possible ban coming and U.S. content creators mobilized to object. Some lawmakers think the bill doesn't address key issues. You're going to tell Americans they can't put a piece of software on their computer. They can't go to certain websites that the president designates. President Joe Biden says it could be a national security risk. If they pass it, I'll sign it. The Chinese government, before the motion passed, criticized the idea of a sell-off for a ban. Although the U.S. has not found any evidence of TikTok threatening national security, it has never stopped going after TikTok. Steps to ban any social media platform could face court challenges over the issue of freedom of speech. But before that, this would have to pass the Senate. And there are no plans even to give it a hearing, never mind a vote. One First Amendment expert says the idea of government going after social media should chill everyone. I think it's a terrible bill. I think that it runs roughshod over the First Amendment and that it is a kind of gift to authoritarians all over the world who will use this as a pretext to crack down on their own citizens' access to information and ideas and media from abroad. When President Donald Trump issued an executive order banning TikTok, but rescinded it when the courts ruled it had not been established it was a clear and present national security threat, which makes it hard to see the app disappearing from American phones any time soon. Alan Fisher, Al Jazeera, Capitol Hill.

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Zaporizhzhia

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Council of the City of Sydney

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Israel-Gaza War

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The Hague

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Buenos Aires

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Odesa

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Edinburgh

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Turin

Climate Crisis

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Oklahoma

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