TikTok describes freedom of expression as ‘trampling’ ban of the app in the US

TikTok expressed concerns about freedom of expression in relation to a bill passed by the House of Representatives in the United States that would ban the popular social media app in that country if Chinese owner ByteDance does not sell its stake within a year.

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The House of Representatives approved the law on Saturday by 360 votes in favor and 58 against, and it now goes to the Senate, where it could be voted on in the coming days. President Joe Biden already said on TikTok that he would sign the law.

Many US lawmakers from both the Republican and Democratic parties and the Biden administration say TikTok poses national security risks because China could force the company to share the data of its 170 million American users.

“It is unfortunate that the House of Representatives is using the cover of important foreign and humanitarian aid to once again pass a ban bill that would trample on the free speech rights of 170 million Americans,” TikTok said in a statement. .

In FebruaryTikTok had criticized the original bill that ultimately stalled in the Senate, saying it would “censor millions of Americans.” Similarly, he had argued that a state ban on TikTok in Montana passed last year was a violation of the First Amendment.

The American Civil Liberties Union opposed the House bill on free speech grounds. TikTok insists it has never shared US data and never would.

You can also read: 15 teenagers from around the world advise TikTok to make the platform safer

Some Democrats have also expressed concern about the ban on free speech and have instead called for stricter data privacy legislation.

TikTok was also the topic of conversation in a call between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier this month. Biden expressed concern about the app’s ownership.

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