Biden To Sign Bill To Ban TikTok In USA, Details Surface
- President Joe Biden has said he would support a quickly moving bipartisan bill that could ban TikTok if Congress passes the legislation
- Biden had expressed national security concerns over TikTok and banned it on federal devices
- Biden's administration has pressed for TikTok to become independent of ByteDance or face a US ban
Washington, USA - US president, Joe Biden, has said he would sign a legislation seeking to ban the popular social media app, TikTok, in the country.
As reported by Sky News recently, legislation passed through the US House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on Thursday, March 7, calling on China's ByteDance to divest its ownership of TikTok or effectively face a US ban.
Source: UGC
The House plans to vote this week on bipartisan legislation that would allow Biden to ban TikTok.
According to AP News, Biden said when asked by reporters about the legislation:
If they pass it, I’ll sign it.
In a similar vein, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters:
This bill is important, we welcome this step.
It is understood that the bill would give ByteDance 165 days, or about five and a half months, to divest TikTok to a US entity. If it fails to do so, TikTok would be banned from US app stores and web hosting services, effectively cutting off access to its 170 million American users.
Biden's opposition to TikTok
The White House has long expressed concern about the alleged national security risks of TikTok.
In 2022, Biden signed a bill that banned the app on government phones.
The ban prohibited the use of TikTok by US government’s employees on devices owned by its agencies, with limited exceptions for law enforcement and security research purposes.
Read more about TikTok:
- "Their kitchen is neat": Students cook 7 pots of jollof rice in school hostel, posts video on TikTok
- Funny moment baby discovered that she has hands and legs, video goes viral on TikTok
- "How do I make money on TikTok?" Lady shows N111,000 she made on the app, video goes viral
Biden to push higher corporate tax
In a piece of related news, Legit.ng reported that Biden is expected to mount pressure on major corporations and wealthy individuals, calling for them to pay more in taxes via his State of the Union speech.
The proposals Biden is pushing for include a higher corporate tax rate of 28 percent and a corporate minimum tax of 21 percent, according to the White House.
Ghanaian Lady Takes Loan To Relocate To UK
In another story, Abena Mercedes, a Ghanaian TikToker based in the UK, shared the story of a fellow Ghanaian woman who moved to the UK seeking better opportunities but ended up in despair.
According to Abena Mercedes, the woman, who remains anonymous, took out a loan with her mother's help to relocate but has been unable to secure the job she hoped for, leaving her unemployed, homeless, and struggling to feed herself.
She appealed to Abena Mercedes and TikTok users for assistance, highlighting her distress and the financial burden her situation has placed on her family back in Ghana.
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Source: Legit.ng
Delali Adogla-Bessa (Current Affairs Editor) Delali Adogla-Bessa is a Current Affairs Editor with YEN.com.gh. Delali previously worked as a freelance journalist in Ghana and has over seven years of experience in media, primarily with Citi FM, Equal Times, Ubuntu Times. Delali also volunteers with the Ghana Institute of Language Literacy and Bible Translation, where he documents efforts to preserve local languages. He graduated from the University of Ghana in 2014 with a BA in Information Studies. Email: delali.adogla-bessa@yen.com.gh.
Berlinda Entsie (Copy Editor) Berlinda Entsie is a Copy Editor at YEN.com.gh. She has worked as a proofreader and editor since 2016. Berlinda has over 5 years' experience editing and writing for leading publications in Ghana. She previously worked with Graphic Communications Group LTD, Business Insider SSA and Pulse.com.gh. She obtained a B.A in English Studies from the Methodist University College in 2016 and a Diploma in Broadcast Journalism from the GH Media School in 2019. Reach out to her via berlinda.entsie@yen.com.gh
