TikTok users flood congressional office phone lines with calls opposing a TikTok ban after the app surfaced prompts to some users, encouraging them to call their representatives. The same day, a House committee advances a bill targeting TikTok and other apps accused of being controlled by foreign adversaries, including China.
The bill would require that TikTok either be divested from ByteDance or face a ban in the United States.
President Biden tells reporters he would approve the TikTok bill if Congress passes it. “If they pass it, I’ll sign it,” he said. His stance appears to contrast with that of Trump. Trump, who had previously supported a TikTok ban, posts online the night before that “if you get rid of TikTok, Facebook and Zuckerschmuck will double their business,” referring to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
The House is set to hold a floor vote on a bill requiring that certain companies found to be controlled by a foreign adversary be divested within 180 days, singling out ByteDance and TikTok. If the bill becomes law and ByteDance does not divest, U.S.-based app stores and web hosting services would be prohibited from providing the app to the public, effectively leading to a ban in the country.
Editing by Karly Domb Sadof and Alexis Sobel Fitts.