House to Ban ByteDance Apps Including TikTok from Official Devices Starting August 15

Jul 30, 2024, 03:07 PM

The House of Representatives is taking significant steps to address national security concerns related to ByteDance, the Chinese-owned parent company of TikTok. Starting August 15, the House will begin blocking and removing all ByteDance products, including TikTok, Capcut, Lemon8, Lark, and Hypic, from official congressional devices and app stores. This move follows actions by the House to force TikTok to divest from China, citing the platform as a major national security threat due to its ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Concerns have been raised about TikTok's role in promoting illegal activities and collecting user data to influence U.S. elections. The process will begin with mobile devices, followed by desktop versions, and will involve all House-managed devices.