The leader of TikTok expressed dissatisfaction after the House approved a bill on Wednesday that might prohibit the well-liked social media app and urged users to reach out to their U.S. senators and persuade them to vote against the bill, which now goes to the upper chamber.
In a video shared on TikTok, CEO Shou Chew promised that he would continue to fight against the bill from becoming a law and encouraged the public to keep expressing their opposition to it.
“We will not stop fighting and speaking out for you. We will keep doing everything possible, including using our legal rights to safeguard this incredible platform that we have created with you. We believe we can overcome this together,” Chew said in the video.
“I recommend you to keep sharing your stories, share them with your friends, share them with your family, share them with your senators. Defend your constitutional rights. Make your voices heard,” he added.
The House, in a 352-65 vote on Wednesday, easily passed The Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. The bill would compel ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based parent company, to sell the app within 165 days or face a ban in the U.S. from app stores and web-hosting services.
Supporters of the bill argue that it aims to limit the national security risks presented by ByteDance, alleging that it could share sensitive data from American users with the Chinese government. TikTok, however, has pushed back on allegations that it poses national security risks—a stance Chew reiterated in his video on TikTok.
He started his video by expressing his thoughts about “the disappointing vote in the House of Representatives” and correcting misinformation.
“Over the past few years, we have worked to keep your data secure and our platform free from external influence. We have pledged that we will continue to do so,” he stated. “This legislation, if signed into law, will result in a TikTok ban in the United States.”
It is unclear whether the Senate will address the legislation. statementSenate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) stated that the Senate “will review the legislation when it comes over from the House.”
Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Vice Chair Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) issued a statement of support after the House vote and highlighted the lower chamber’s strong bipartisan support for the measure.
“We are unified in our concern about the national security threat posed by TikTok – a platform with substantial power to influence and divide Americans whose parent company ByteDance is still legally obliged to follow the directives of the Chinese Communist Party,” they stated.
