Social media users have expressed mixed feelings towards President Joe Biden after he acknowledged his intention to sign a bill that could potentially ban TikTok if it is passed by Congress.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are currently investigating allegations that employees of ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, may have engaged in spying activities targeting journalists.
In a statement made on Friday, President Biden expressed his intention to sign a bill that would require ByteDance, the Chinese owner of TikTok, to divest its popular social media platform or else face a ban in the United States. Speaking about the bipartisan legislation, which is expected to be voted on next week in the House, Biden stated, “If they pass it, I’ll sign it.” If the bill is enacted, ByteDance will have 165 days to divest TikTok or risk being banned from operating in America.
The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, spearheaded by Representatives Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), swiftly gained unanimous support in the House Energy and Commerce Committee, merely two days after its introduction. This bill would require Senate approval before reaching President Biden’s desk for signature.
TikTok is taking legal action against Montana in order to prevent the implementation of a recently passed statewide ban.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) expressed some reservations about the bill, criticizing the Republicans for what he deemed a rushed process. However, he and other Democrats ultimately decided to support the bill, primarily due to their concerns regarding national security and the fact that TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is based in China.
The White House reportedly assisted in the development of the bill, providing technical support. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre recently commented that the TikTok legislation requires further refinement before President Biden can fully endorse it.
Meek Mill recently expressed his opinion on Joe Biden’s suitability for the presidency, stating that he believes Biden is too old for the role.
The proposed legislation empowers the President, with the assistance of the FBI and intelligence agencies, to designate specific social media apps as national security risks if they are found to be under the influence of foreign adversaries. In the event that any apps are identified as potential threats, they will be prohibited from being available on U.S. app stores, unless they cut all connections with foreign-controlled entities within a period of 180 days.
TikTok remains firm in its stance against the bill and vehemently denies all accusations brought forth by U.S. agencies. According to a spokesperson, the legislation appears to have a predetermined objective – the complete prohibition of TikTok within the United States.
A recent poll reveals that an astounding 86% of Americans believe that President Joe Biden is “too old” for a second term. This finding is significant and indicates a widespread concern among the American public about Biden’s age and ability to effectively serve as president for another four years. The poll results highlight the importance of addressing this issue and considering potential alternatives for the upcoming presidential election.
On Thursday (March 7), TikTok made an attempt to block the bill from advancing, but unfortunately, their campaign did not succeed. As part of their efforts, TikTok encouraged its users to reach out to Congress through phone calls and emails, urging them to prevent a TikTok shutdown.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump, who is expected to be Biden’s Republican opponent in the 2024 Presidential election, has expressed his opposition to the bill. During his previous term from 2016 to 2020, Trump attempted to ban TikTok but has since had a change of heart. In a recent post on his social app, Truth Social, Trump suggested that banning TikTok could potentially benefit Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, which are the same platforms that banned him in 2021 before reinstating him in 2023.
The Trump administration is set to give approval to Oracle’s bid to acquire TikTok operations in the United States.