In a major bipartisan move, the House of Representatives passed by 352 to 65 votes the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act co-authored by Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat, and Congressman Mike Gallaghe from the Republican party. The bill, which seeks to control the ownership of foreign apps like TikTok in the US, now heads to the Senate for it to be sent to the White House for the President to sign it into law.
US lawmakers on Wednesday cited the bold move by India to ban TikTok four years ago as they voted in support of legislation that could ban the Chinese app in the country.
The bill now heads to the Senate for it to be sent to the White House for the President to sign it into law.
Several lawmakers referred to the bold decision taken by India in 2020 to ban the app as they backed the bill which seeks to control the ownership of foreign apps like TikTok in the US.
In 2020, India banned 59 Chinese-created apps, including TikTok, emphasising their priority to defend India’s national security, said the office of Congressman Greg Murphy in a statement.
“The app collects sensitive user data that is shared with the Chinese Communist Party and its intelligence services. Under its current ownership, it presents a grave national security threat,” he said.
House Republicans said the ambitious data collection goals of China and the documented lack of transparency from TikTok and their executives over data and moderation practices has prompted governments, including the US, the European Union, Canada, India and several US States to ban the use of the application on government devices.