TikTok says the proposed legislation would hurt free speech
- The measure, introduced by another House of Representatives committee and backed by the White House, cites national security concerns.It has urged its users to call members of Congress to voice their opposition.
It was approved unanimously 50-0 on Thursday by the Energy and Commerce Committee. The Senate would need to approve it before it became law. The bill pledges to "protect the national security of the United States from the threat posed by foreign adversary controlled applications". The bill makes specific reference to ByteDance - which would be forced under the terms of the bill to sell TikTok, or face removal from mobile app stores in the US."America's foremost adversary has no business controlling a dominant media platform in the United States," said committee chairman Mike Gallagher, a Republican of Wisconsin.