PENNSYLVANIA, USA — TikTok could be removed from mobile devices in the United States as soon as late summer, following a decision from the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives.
A bill that passed the house with wide bi-partisan support could ban TikTok in the U.S. if the app refuses to part ways with its parent company, ByteDance, in the next five months.
Lawmakers have characterized the app as posing a threat to national security, questioning the company’s ties to China.
U.S. intelligence officials expressed concerns ByteDance may be sharing data from the app’s 170 million American users with the Chinese government, a claim TikTok has repeatedly denied.
"It’s located in a country where there’s no free media, no freedom of expression. There are no protections guaranteed to media companies as we have in this country, like First Amendment guarantees," said S. Shyam Sundar, Penn State professor of media effects. "There’s a reasonable possibility that the Chinese government can swoop in on TikTok’s servers."
Proponents said the bill gives TikTok a clear choice.
TikTok’s creators and users feel the bill would trample on their right to freedom of speech. Many of them protested outside the Capitol beginning a day before the decision.
"TikTok, to me, means freedom," said Brian Firebaugh, a creator who operates under the handle @cattleguy. "There is no doubt that I would not have found the success that I have today without TikTok."
"Yes, national security is super important, but maybe there’s a different way to do it," added Beck Lawrence, a creator from Hanover, York County. "I don’t think it’s just TikTok."
Lawrence, owner of Serpent’s Key Shoppe and Sanctuary in Hanover, has grown their following to more than 200,000.
"I’m very grateful that I have a pretty big following right now on TikTok," they said. "It has afforded me so much opportunity, so much ability to promote myself and my business."
Beck says a ban would force creators to migrate to other platforms and rebuild the following that they often work hard to cultivate.
"In terms of fear of losing business, it sucks. Obviously, it sucks," Lawrence said. "I don’t know that it’s actually going to get that far without an American company stepping in, because again this is a great investment opportunity."
Harrisburg-based content creator Amanda Matta has amassed 1.3 million followers on TikTok, posting updates on the British royal family under the handle @matta_of_fact.
Matta responded to the vote in a statement to FOX43:
“I think the government's position on TikTok is extremely unfortunate, particularly their continued claim that the app contributes to Chinese surveillance of Americans. ByteDance, TikTok's parent company has testified that the data it collects from American users is stored by a U.S.-based entity, one separate from their Chinese data centers.
TikTok is more than just an entertainment app for kids, which seems to be government officials' prevailing view. About 70% of TikTok users report using the app for education. My background is in museum education, and I have found TikTok to be a remarkable tool for disseminating information. It is also a stream of income for millions of Americans, both creators monetizing their original content and small business owners who use the app to reach new customers."
A TikTok spokesperson responded to the vote, "We are hopeful that the Senate will consider the facts, listen to their constituents, and realize the impact on the economy, 7 million small businesses, and the 170 million Americans who use our service.”
If a ban happens, the tech experts suggest TikTok may have difficulty finding an American buyer. The app’s video format is not much different from features already available on other platforms and that means any company that purchases TikTok would be doing so for the brand.
The bill’s fate in the Senate is unclear. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer did not indicate a position when asked Wednesday.
President Biden has said he will sign the bill if it reaches his desk.