Soon, about 150 million TikTok users may need to find a new app to scroll after the U.S. House voted overwhelmingly to require its China-based parent company, ByteDance, to sell the popular video-sharing app or face a national ban.
U.S. Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Irving, released a statement expressing concern that the app is being used for surveillance purposes and to spread propaganda.
Like Van Duyne, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have shared concerns about the security of U.S. user data and the Chinese government’s ability to access it.
Rep. Marc Veasey posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the bill is about making Americans safer, not banning TikTok.
The vote comes a little over a year after a U.S. judge upheld Texas’ ban of the app for public employees using state-owned devices or networks; 38 other states have similar bans.
The most recent bill showed strong bipartisan support with 197 Republicans and 155 Democrats voting in its favor. Sixty-five legislators voted against it and the remaining 15 members were tallied as either present or not voting.
Here’s how representatives with portions of Tarrant County in their district voted:
U.S. House District 6 Rep. Jake Ellzey, R-Midlothian: Yes
U.S. House District 12 Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth: Not voting
U.S. House District 24 Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Irving: Yes
U.S. House District 25 Rep. Roger Williams, R-Weatherford: Not voting
U.S. House District 30 Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas: Present
U.S. House District 33 Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth: Yes
Despite the bill’s quick path through the House, it is unlikely to move through the Senate at the same rate as it’s unclear if the bill has the minimum of 60 votes it needs to move forward.
On March 8, President Joe Biden said he would be willing to sign the bill if it lands on his desk, but this action could lead to a lawsuit.
Marcheta Fornoff covers the arts for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at marcheta.fornoff@fortworthreport.org. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board.