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US Considers TikTok Ban Over Security Concerns
A Congressional committee has approved a bill that could force TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the popular app within six months or face a ban in the US. The move comes amid national security concerns raised by lawmakers who allege ties between ByteDance and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
The bill, backed by the White House, cites the potential threat posed by foreign-controlled apps to national security. Lawmakers argue that ByteDance’s collaboration with the CCP could allow access to user data or manipulate content.
TikTok vehemently denies these claims and argues the legislation would violate free speech rights of its millions of American users. The company also expressed concern for small businesses that rely on the platform. They have urged users to contact their representatives to oppose the bill.
The bill’s passage through the committee was unanimous, but it faces further hurdles. It needs approval from the full House before heading to the Senate.
Supporters of the bill, including committee chairman Mike Gallagher, insist it’s not a ban, but a way to address national security concerns. However, critics, including the ACLU, argue it’s an attempt to score political points and could restrict access to information and communication for many Americans.
This isn’t the first time US lawmakers have targeted TikTok. The app is already banned on government devices, and former President Trump attempted a full ban, but it faced legal challenges.
Five Dead in Tennessee Plane Crash
Five individuals tragically lost their lives on Monday in the vicinity of Nashville, Tennessee, USA, as a small private aircraft met with a fatal crash near a highway, as confirmed by local law enforcement authorities.
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department posted on X that all five occupants aboard the airplane perished in the devastating incident. Accompanying the announcement was a distressing image revealing the wreckage of the single-engine plane.
According to reports cited by various US media outlets, Nashville police spokesperson Don Aaron stated that the aircraft had experienced engine and power failures at approximately 7:40 pm local time (0140 GMT on Tuesday). Despite being cleared for an emergency landing at Nashville’s John C. Tune Airport, the plane tragically crashed just a few kilometers away from the designated landing site.
Authorities have initiated an investigation into the crash, with both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board taking charge of the inquiry.
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