Lobbyists shift focus to Senate after House votes to crack down on TikTok.
The House of Representatives decisively passed a bill on Wednesday aimed at banning TikTok from operating in the United States or compelling its sale.
Lawmakers expressed apprehension that the parent company, ByteDance, might relinquish U.S. users’ data to Beijing, citing national security risks.
Despite a eleventh-hour lobbying blitz by the Chinese-controlled short-video platform, the House vote underscored strong bipartisan consensus on addressing TikTok’s perceived threats to national security.
The bill passed by a vote of 352 to 65, with one member voting present, signaling a resounding endorsement for legislative action against TikTok.
Major debate
Now, attention turns to the Senate, where the fate of the bill remains uncertain.
Lobbyists on both sides are expected to intensify efforts to sway senators, as the legislation heads for what promises to be a contentious debate in the upper chamber.
