In a move to bolster its defense against a contentious law targeting TikTok, the US House committee has voted to disclose details from a pivotal closed-door hearing. This decision comes amidst escalating legal battles, with TikTok and its parent company ByteDance challenging a legislation that mandates the divestiture of its US operations. The law, signed by President Joe Biden, could potentially ban the app from American users by early 2025 if compliance isn’t met.
Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers, chair of the committee, highlighted the urgency, citing intelligence community warnings about TikTok’s perceived threats. Despite the Justice Department’s request to keep the transcript classified for litigation purposes, no plans are in place for public release. Rodgers emphasized that recent actions by China underscore its reluctance to relinquish control over such applications, framing them as tools potentially leveraged against American interests.
The legal battleground is set for September 16, when oral arguments will be heard, marking a critical juncture in the ongoing dispute. The Justice Department faces a looming deadline of July 26 to respond to the lawsuits, aiming to strengthen its position by compelling ByteDance’s compliance with the divestiture order.
The controversy surrounding TikTok isn’t new, with previous attempts to ban the app thwarted by judicial rulings during the Trump administration. As the legal saga unfolds, scrutiny intensifies over the national security implications tied to TikTok’s data practices under Chinese ownership.
