Senate Approves Bill To Ban TikTok From U.S. Government Devices

Marita Vlachou

15 December 2022 at 8:14 am·2-min read

The U.S. Senate on Wednesday passed a bill that would ban federal employees from downloading or using TikTok on devices provided by the government.

The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and backed by GOP Sens. Rick Scott (Fla.), Marco Rubio (Fla.) and Tom Cotton (Ark.), passed the chamber by unanimous consent.

The bill still needs the approval of the House of Representatives and President Joe Biden before it could become law. It’s unclear if House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D) plans a vote on the legislation before the end of this term.

The bill, titled “No TikTok on Government Devices Act,” previously passed in the Senate in August 2020, but never made it to the House floor.

TikTok critics have long pointed out the company’s links to China as a potential vulnerability.

“TikTok is a Trojan Horse for the Chinese Communist Party. It’s a major security risk to the United States, and until it is forced to sever ties with China completely, it has no place on government devices,” Hawley said in a statement following the bill’s passage.

A TikTok spokesperson told HuffPost the legislation “does nothing to advance U.S. national security interests.” The spokesperson called on Hawley to work with the Biden administration on a deal “that would actually address his concerns.”

Several Republican-led states have imposed similar bans for state employees, including Texas, Maryland and North Dakota.

Earlier this week, U.S. lawmakers introduced bipartisan legislation calling for a full ban of TikTok in the U.S. Rubio backed the bill in the Senate, and Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) introduced a version in the House.

TikTok is currently under review by the federal government’s interagency Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S.

Former President Donald Trump unsuccessfully tried to ban TikTok and Chinese-owned WeChat in the U.S. in 2020. President Joe Biden rolled back those efforts when he took office.

The Telegraph
Listen: Biden says he is ‘first black woman to serve with a black president’
Joe Biden has said he is “proud” to be the first “black woman to serve with a black president” in one of a series of verbal gaffes as the USA celebrated Independence Day.
NextShark
74-year-old woman dies after being shoved in front of San Francisco train
Corazon Dandan died after being pushed into an oncoming BART train at San Francisco’s Powell Street Station at around 11 p.m on Monday night. The suspect, 49-year-old Trevor Belmont, also known as Hoak Taing, was arrested at the scene and booked into the San Francisco County Jail on suspicion of homicide and elder abuse. Dandan, who was Filipino American, was a dedicated telephone operator at the Westin St. Francis and other hotels.
The Daily Beast
Conservatives Routed in Worst Election Result for 200 Years
LONDON—The Conservatives, the world’s winningest political party, were booted out of power in dramatic style on Thursday after 14 years of chaotic and divisive rule.The Labour Party had secured a landslide victory, ending an era of Conservative rule over Britain that stretches back to 2010; the year that the iPad and Instagram were launched and Lady Gaga wore that meat dress to the MTV music awards.In that time, the Conservatives have cycled through five leaders, each of them dragging the party
People
Eva Amurri Doubles Down in Defense of Her Wedding Dress Cleavage: 'My 32F Boobs Minding Their Business'
The bride, who wore a corset-style Kim Kassas gown on her wedding day, previously clapped back at trolls who felt “scandalized” by her breasts
The Telegraph
Biden ‘seriously considering’ leaving election race
Joe Biden has for the first time said that he is considering ending his presidential campaign, according to reports.
Cinema Online
Joyce Chen confirms she has become a mother
The TVB actress shares photos of her and her daughter, not revealing partner's identity
The Telegraph
Beijing is laughing at the West’s weakness
Russian aggression in Ukraine poses a threat to world peace and stability. China provides material support for Russia’s actions. All this is entirely clear. In Beijing, immediately after a meeting with Xi Jinping in April this year, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that “Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without China’s support”. This included selling huge quantities of machine tools and micro-electronics that would be used in the Russian defence industry.
Hello!
Maya Jama's racy red latex plunge dress is seriously spicy
The Love Island host just raised heart rates around the globe in a seriously sultry red latex dress. See photos
Hello!
Rod Stewart, 79, rocked by divorce news: report
In a surprising turn of events Rod Stewart has received some shocking divorce news. See details.
Bloomberg
These flight routes suffer the world’s worst turbulence
A series of incidents that left scores of airline passengers needing medical attention has shone a spotlight on the problem of severe in-flight turbulence.
CNN
9 out of 10 voters say there are important differences between Biden and Trump. Here’s what they see as the biggest ones
If there’s one thing that American voters overwhelmingly agree on, it’s that this year’s presidential election presents a stark choice. In the latest CNN poll by SSRS, 91% of registered voters say they see important differences between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, dwarfing even the 77% of voters who said last fall that there were significant divides between the Democratic and Republican parties. Even among the so-called “double haters” – those with unfavorable views of
The Telegraph
Horrifying moment husband wheels suitcase containing murdered wife from home while carrying child
A husband who strangled his wife in front of her two children and lover on a video call was captured wheeling the suitcase containing her body out of his home.
INSIDER
How Obama mentored the new UK prime minister to help him tell his story
The leader of the Labour Party, Keir Starmer, has been mentored by Barack Obama. The relationship is likely to continue if Starmer wins the UK election.
BuzzFeed
"It Was The Worst Betrayal I Have Ever Experienced": People Are Revealing The Shocking Reason Why They Don't Speak To Their Sibling Anymore
"Once it became clear he was committed to those ugly morals, I told him never to contact me."
Evening Standard
All change: When will Rishi Sunak have to move out of Number 10 — and where could he live next?
With the removal vans on standby, the current prime minister has a portfolio of high-end properties to choose from
INSIDER
I went inside a hidden room where flight attendants sleep on long-haul flights. I was amazed by its small size and comfy beds.
Business Insider's reporter toured a secret room above economy where Air New Zealand flight attendants sleep on long-haul Boeing 777-300ER flights.
The Telegraph
Cristiano Ronaldo accused of ‘ambush marketing’ after wearing £230 smart wristband
Cristiano Ronaldo’s heart-rate data during Portugal’s penalty shootout win over Slovenia has been made public by the maker of a wearable device with whom he has partnered.
Hello!
Amanda Holden almost bears all in glamorous shower video from lavish bathroom
BGT's Amanda Holden looked sensational when she almost bore all in a candid shower video. See video.
The Telegraph
Zelensky U-turns as he invites Russia to attend peace summit without giving up land
Volodymyr Zelensky has invited Russia to the next peace summit despite previously saying it could only join if it relinquished land in Ukraine.
The Smart Investor
4 Reliable Singapore Dividend Stocks That I Never Intend to Sell
There are good reasons not to let go of a great dividend-paying stock. Here are four of them I plan to hold for the rest of my life. The post 4 Reliable Singapore Dividend Stocks That I Never Intend to Sell appeared first on The Smart Investor.

Latest stories