Congress moves closer to banning TikTok
A bill that could essentially ban the popular app is gaining momentum on Capitol Hill with a vote on it expected this week.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - The United States Congress is taking on TikTok.
A bill that could essentially ban the popular app is gaining momentum on Capitol Hill with a vote on it expected this week.
The bill would force Chinese company ByteDance to sell TikTok in order to keep the app available to its U.S. users.
If they don't it could be banned.
Lawmakers are worried about TikTok.
"It uses the data of Americans to basically read your mind,” said Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).
With millions of U.S. users, Senator Marco Rubio says that power is dangerous because of the app's ownership.
"The problem is the algorithm that powers it is controlled by a company in China that must do whatever the Chinese Communist Party tells them to do,” said Rubio.
In a Senate hearing on Monday FBI Director Christopher Wray talked about the threats the app presents and acknowledged that TikTok could be used to push conspiracy theories, influence U.S. elections, and manipulate public opinion.
Users may not even know it's happening.
"Extraordinarily difficult to detect, which is part of what makes the national security concerns represented by TikTok so significant,” said Wray.
That's why lawmakers are considering a bill to force TikTok’s owner to sell or face a U.S. ban.
Last week in a rare moment of unity a House committee unanimously voted to move the bill forward.
That was a strongly bipartisan vote. That is impressive in nature in any instance,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (R-N.Y.)
Now leaders are planning to bring it up for a vote in the full House on Wednesday.
Support for the bill is only growing among Republicans, Democrats, and the White House.
"If they pass it, I'll sign it,” Biden said.
Former President Donald Trump is lobbying against the bill, saying he believes getting rid of TikTok would just benefit Facebook.