The Chinese Foreign Ministry has criticized a new law that would require the Chinese owner of the popular app TikTok to sell it in the US. According to the ministry, there is no evidence that TikTok poses a threat to national security. However, Senator Marco Rubio, the top Republican on the Intelligence Committee, supports the legislation, stating that it is beneficial for America.
The battle over TikTok is just one aspect of the larger conflict over the Internet and technology between Washington and Beijing. In recent actions, Beijing ordered Apple to remove certain platforms from its app store, reflecting ongoing tensions between the two nations. TikTok plans to challenge the legislation on First Amendment grounds, asserting that it protects freedom of speech and expression. The company is prepared to go to court to block the legislation, emphasizing that it has not shared US user data with the Chinese government.
In a recent Senate debate, lawmakers voted against a bill that would require the sale of TikTok’s US operations. Despite opposition from some lawmakers, however, ByteDance was given a limited time frame to sell its US operations as part of a broader measure for military aid. The legislation also provides new tools for addressing security threats posed by foreign-owned apps. Critics warn that selling TikTok may not be feasible within
