Ban order Looms on TikTok Use in America

America seems to be following India in its efforts to put restrictions on the use of the Chinese video-sharing app TikTok in the country. A bill to bar federal employees from using TikTok on government-owned devices was passed by the US senate on Wednesday.

Now this bill needs the approval of the US House of Representatives before going to President Joe Biden for final approval.

The bill was taken up as part of US lawmakers’ action to crack down on Chinese companies that pose threat to national security. It is feared that China government uses apps like TikTok to spy on Americans.

Several American federal agencies including the Defense, Homeland Security, and State departments have already banned the use of TikTok from government-owned devices.

US states like North Dakota, Iowa, Alabama, Utah, and several others issued directives prohibiting executive branch agencies from downloading the TikTok app on any government-issued device.

In 2020, then-President Donald Trump tried to ban TikTok use in America. But a series of court battles over the measure had prevented Trump from doing so.