The future of TikTok in the United States is once again uncertain as the Biden administration pressures its Chinese owner, ByteDance, to sell the popular video-sharing app or face a nationwide ban. TikTok’s CEO has argued that a ban would not address security concerns, and the company has attempted to persuade US officials that they can address these concerns and meet the level of proposed scrutiny. To stave off the forced sale of the company, TikTok is flooding Washington with dozens of influencers, who will hold a press conference on Capitol Hill next week.
The app’s CEO is also scheduled to testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday. It is not yet clear how a ban would work, but the White House’s best chance to enforce one would likely come from a bipartisan bill introduced by a group of senators that has strong White House support. The concerns around TikTok stem from fears that the app could be infiltrated by the Chinese government, allowing it to spy on American users or access US user data. Some lawmakers are also worried about the potential for social media platforms to lead younger users down harmful holes.
