TikTok users furious after House passes bill that could ban app in US
TikTok users in the US have hit back after the House of Representatives passed a landmark bill that could see the social media platform banned nationwide.
The bill was introduced last week and after being fast-tracked through the House of Representatives, it is now set to head to the Senate. If it becomes law, the bill would force ByteDance - TikTok's Chinese parent company - to sell the app, which China previously said it would be opposed to.
And if ByteDance refuses to sell TikTok, it would become illegal for app stores to distribute the app, which is used by over 170 million people in the US. TikTok users, as well as creators and influencers - especially those who have made a career online - have been complaining about the potential ban on the platform which could see them become jobless or lose a big part of their income.
READ MORE: TikTok faces BAN in US after House passes bill which could stop app sales
There have been protests over the potential ban on TikTok in the US (Bloomberg via Getty Images)V Spehar, the TikTok creator behind UnderTheDeskNews, told TechCrunch that people are "smart" and feel "energised" to fight the potential ban as they "don't appreciate being belittled", adding: "It's really sad to know that half of America is being told to shut up by our elected officials." The platform itself has rallied its users to call on Congress to stop the bill and express their opposition to the legislation. Some politicians' officers reported they were being overloaded with calls from angry TikTok users.
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Noah Glenn Carter, a creator with 8.7 million followers, urged his followers to call their senators to express their disappointment. Michelle York, an influencer who has nearly 200,000 followers on the platform, posted a video of her smiling while singing along to the viral soundtrack "Me!" from Glee, adding an overlaid text saying: "When you spent 20 years building a career in the insurance industry only to quit your job to be a content creator and now TikTok might be banned."
Unless TikTok's parent company sells the app, it could be banned in US app stores (Future Publishing via Getty Images)Influencer @pearlmania500, who has more than a million followers on TikTok, vented his frustration in a video saying: "The only thing all 535 members of this congress could f**king agree on is to ban TikTok? That's it? I heard them talking about raising the minimum wage.
"Can't f**king agree on that. Heard about talking about trying to keep prescription drug prices low for people. No, can't agree on that! But when it comes to banning TikTok, line up buddies! Bring that f**king Instagram and Microsoft money down here."
Mike Gallagher, a Wisconsin Republican who co-authored the bill, said the US could not "take the risk of having a dominant news platform in America controlled or owned by a company that is beholden to the Chinese Communist Party." Chinese companies are subject to a national security law requiring them to share data with the government on request.
A group of TikTok creators and advocates hold signs before a news conference outside the US Capitol on Tuesday (Bloomberg via Getty Images)But Shou Zi Chew, who has been the chief executive officer of TikTok since 2021, emphasised the company is not beholden to the Chinese Communist Party and added that users are free to post content critical of China without any political interference. In a video posted on TikTok after news of a potential ban in the US emerged, he said: "Hi everyone. It's Shou here. Just wanted to share some thoughts with our US users about the disappointing vote in the House of Representatives.
"There has been a lot of misinformation and I hope to clarify some things." He thanked the platform's users for making TikTok "special" as he continued: "Over the last few years, we have invested to keep your data safe and our platform free from outside manipulation. We have committed that we will continue to do so.
It it becomes law, TikTok could be banned in the US (Anadolu via Getty Images)"This legislation, if signed into law, will lead to a ban of TikTok in the United States. Even the bill's sponsors admit that's their goal. This bill gives more power to a handful of other social media companies. It will also take billions of dollars out of the pockets of creators and small businesses.
"It will put more than 300,000 American jobs at risk and it will take away your TikTok. We know how important TikTok is to all of you. It has given our 170 million users a platform to freely express themselves and has empowered more than 7 million businesses in the United States.
"Our platform matters to the small business owners who rely on TikTok to make ends meet, to the teachers who inspire millions of students to learn, and to everyone who discovers and finds joy on TikTok. We will not stop fighting and advocating for you and we will continue to do all we can, including exercising our legal rights, to protect this amazing platform we have built with you.
"We believe we can overcome this together. I encourage you to keep sharing your stories, share them with your friends, share them with your family, share them with your Senators. Protect your constitutional rights. Make your voices heard. Love you all."
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