Social media TikTok may be banned in the United States, as such a bill is about to be passed in the country. The app is sending push notifications to users in an effort to combat the new bill. The notification said that they should call their respective public representatives and request them in this regard.
If the new bill passes, ByteDance may be forced to sell the app to continue operating TikTok on the US App Store, according to various news reports.
“TikTok could face closure in the United States.” Call your representative now,” tech site Engadget reported on such requests in push notifications.
“Speak up before your government takes away 170 million Americans’ constitutional right to free speech.” – said TikTok in an ‘in-app’ message.
In addition, the social media also gave users a shortcut to call the representative’s office with just the zip code.
This drive announcement has formerly had a dramatic impact, according to the report. Olivia Beavers, a journalist for the news point Politico, said several House staffers reported their services were being swamped with calls. multitudinous calls from high academy scholars are coming in. To address the question,” What’s a Solon?”- A worker posted on social media platformX.
However, unfortunately this plan to fight the bill may not serve TikTok’s purpose. According to Beavers, a flood of taps can actually be ‘backfired’. Such a reaction could increase support for the bill among members of Congress, he said.
“Push notifications are interfering with the legislative process,” said Congressman Mike Gallagher, who chaired the select committee that developed the bill, in a post on X.
TikTok’s warning comes amid growing support for the bill. The support was initiated by one of the oldest committees of the US House of Representatives, the Energy and Commerce Committee. On Thursday, the bill passed its first legislative hurdle with a unanimous 50-0 vote in the committee, Engadget reported.
Besides, US President Joe Biden and his administration are also not in favor of the app. Previous bills to ban TikTok did not have White House support, the report said.
If the bill passes, the social media will have about six months to separate from ByteDance. Otherwise, the app is supposed to be banned from the US App Store.
Following the vote by the Energy and Commerce Committee, TikTok released a statement stating that “this legislation has a predetermined outcome: a full ban on TikTok in the United States.”
“The US government is trying to strip 170 million Americans of their constitutional right to free speech It will harm millions of businesses, deny artists and audiences, and destroy the livelihoods of countless creators across the country.”
Various groups supporting digital rights have also opposed the measure. The bill was called “unconstitutional” by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
