TikTok divestiture is unanimously backed by the house committee.

• The House panel passed a bill with a unanimous vote of 50-0 that may result in TikTok being banned in the U.S.
• The bill is not a ban, according to lawmakers, as it is a national security measure aimed at ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company.
• On Thursday, TikTok encouraged its users to contact Capitol Hill and voice their opposition to a ban, resulting in an influx of calls from young people.

On Thursday, a panel of lawmakers endorsed a contentious legislation that may result in TikTok's ban in the US if ByteDance, its Chinese parent company, fails to comply.

If the bill is passed, TikTok will have to divest from ByteDance within six months or face a ban on its apps and web hosting sites in the US.

The Energy and Commerce Committee, which approved the bill Thursday afternoon after months of negotiations, stated that the objective was not to eliminate TikTok but to prevent a Chinese company from obtaining extensive American data. The committee unanimously voted 50-0 to move the bill to the full House or Representatives.

"Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., emphasized the importance of targeting and specificity in addressing the national security threat, stating that the focus should be on the threat itself rather than the content. She explained that the data collected poses a significant risk and must be addressed accordingly."

The bill, which has swiftly gained support, was endorsed by House Speaker Mike Johnson as a crucial bipartisan measure to combat China, our greatest geopolitical threat, which is actively harming our economy and security.

The bill's passage is being urged by President Joe Biden, who worked with lawmakers from both parties on it. A National Security Council spokesperson stated that the measure is "an important and welcome step."

The bill to limit TikTok faced opposition on the grounds of freedom of speech. A TikTok spokesperson stated in a statement that the current bill would infringe on the First Amendment rights of 170 million Americans and deprive 5 million small businesses of a platform they rely on to grow and create jobs.

The American Civil Liberties Union, Computer & Communications Industry Association, and the Center for Democracy & Technology have all expressed opposition to the bill due to shared concerns about protecting free speech.

TikTok is attempting to convince users to continue using the app. Upon opening the app, users were presented with a screenshot stating that Congress was considering a complete ban of TikTok. Several individuals reported that the app requested their zip code, provided the name of their Congress member, and encouraged them to contact their representatives. Numerous staff members and lawmakers informed CNBC that their offices were inundated with calls, primarily from young people.

TikTok's action was another illustration of how effortlessly the app can identify Americans and disseminate false information, according to lawmakers.

"Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wi., chair of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, stated that today's discussion is centered on the bill and intimidating members regarding it. However, tomorrow's topic could revolve around misinformation or falsehoods about an election, a war, or any other subject."

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