'Divest Or Face Ban': US Lawmakers Propose New Bill For TikTok As National Security Concerns Rise Over Chinese Ownership

Lawmakers in the United States (US) have put forward a new bill that could compel ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of the popular short video app TikTok, to divest its shares in the platform or face a potential ban in the country.

The move comes amidst ongoing national security concerns regarding the app's Chinese ownership.

Last year, previous attempts to ban TikTok in the US were stalled in Congress following heavy lobbying efforts by the app.

However, the bipartisan-supported draft bill introduced on Tuesday (5 March) aims to address these concerns.

Representatives Mike Gallagher and Raja Krishnamoorthi, from the Republican and Democratic parties respectively, are among the lawmakers backing the proposed legislation.

"This is my message to TikTok: break up with the Chinese Communist Party or lose access to your American users," Gallagher said.

Representative Krishnamoorthi also echoed similar sentiments, expressing concerns about TikTok's potential collaboration with the Chinese government and its implications for national security.

In response, a TikTok spokesperson criticised the proposed legislation, arguing that it would infringe upon the First Amendment rights of millions of Americans and negatively impact small businesses that rely on the platform for growth and job creation.

If passed, the bill would impose penalties on app stores and web hosting services that distribute TikTok, unless the app separates from its Chinese ownership.

The penalty would amount to $5,000 per US user who accesses, maintains, or updates the app.

Also Read: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Set To Make Electoral Debut From Raebareli? Here's What We Know So Far