TikTok Wants Your Help to Stop TikTok Being Banned in the US
TikTok is currently one of the most popular social media apps in the world, but it could soon be banned in the United States thanks to a new bill making its way through the system.
The app began sending out push notifications alerting users to the bill and encouraging them to contact the U.S. Congress to show their support for the app. TikTok says the bill, which has White House support, would “deprive 170 million Americans of their constitutional right to freedom of expression.”
This is not the first time a TikTok ban has been discussed. We’ve already talked a lot about what would happen if the US banned TikTok , and even why the government wants to ban the app (mostly it comes down to concerns about TikTok spying on Americans).
However, it’s important to remember here that the bill isn’t just aimed at TikTok. The Protecting Americans from Foreign Controlled Apps Act, as the bill is actually called, would give the president the power to ban TikTok, something he has already done on government phones . But it extends beyond that. The bill, if passed, would essentially give the government the power to ban any app that is controlled by a company that is linked to the control of an “enemy.” This means that other apps launched by Chinese companies may also be affected.
In TikTok’s case, the app will likely have to completely sever ties with ByteDance, its parent company, in order to remain active in the US. The government claims the bill aims to ensure higher standards of national security, although of course TikTok doesn’t see that. This is true.
If the ban does go through, it’s likely that TikTok will respond to the move with legal action, something it also did back in 2020 when the former president signed an executive order in an attempt to ban the app entirely. This, of course, was blocked by a federal judge , and the app has remained available to American users ever since.
I personally haven’t yet received a notification about the TikTok push, but others have reported receiving it since Wednesday when news of the ban first started breaking.