The US House of Representatives is scheduled to vote once more on Saturday regarding a bill aimed at compelling TikTok to sever ties with its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or else face a nationwide prohibition, according to a report by AFP.
The US Congress Will Vote Again on TikTok's Fate in the US
This bill, integrated into a substantial $61 billion assistance package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, may encounter smoother approval in both houses of the US Congress.
According to the legislation, ByteDance would be mandated to sell TikTok within a specified period, failing which the app would be removed from Apple and Google's app stores in the United States.
Additionally, the bill grants the US president the authority to classify other applications as national security threats if they are controlled by a nation considered adversarial.
TikTok has criticized the bill, arguing that it would negatively impact the US economy and undermine freedom of expression.
A company spokesperson stated that it was regrettable that the House of Representatives used crucial foreign and humanitarian assistance as a pretext to push through a prohibition bill again, as per AFP's report.
The spokesperson further emphasized that a ban would infringe upon the free speech rights of 170 million Americans, detrimentally affect 7 million businesses, and result in the closure of a platform that contributes $24 billion annually to the US economy.
EU Demands Risk Assessment from the TikTok Lite App
In other developments, the European Union has adopted a firm stance on child safety apprehensions associated with ByteDance's TikTok Lite app, prompting a request for a thorough risk assessment.
TikTok Lite was recently launched in France and Spain. It introduces a "Task and Reward Lite" program that enables users over 18 to earn points through various app engagements, such as video watching and content liking.
Under the Digital Services Act (DSA) enacted earlier this year, the European Commission has intensified its scrutiny of online platforms to ensure compliance with stringent regulations to safeguard users, especially minors, from harmful content and addictive behaviors.
EU industry chief Thierry Breton has issued a directive necessitating ByteDance to create a comprehensive risk assessment within 24 hours.
This assessment should delve into the potential risks posed by the "Task and Reward Lite" program, particularly concerning addictive behavior and the protection of minors.
Additionally, the Commission has sought further details from ByteDance regarding the measures adopted to mitigate systemic risks associated with TikTok Lite.
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