United States of America: Introduced ANTI-SOCIAL CCP Act including ban of TikTok, Bytedance and its subsidiaries (HR 1081/118. Congress)

On 17 February 2023, the Averting the National Threat of Internet Surveillance, Oppressive Censorship and Influence, and Algorithmic Learning by the Chinese Communist Party Act (ANTI-SOCIAL CCP Act HR 1081) was introduced in the House of Representatives of the United States. The Act would give the President the power to restrict access and prohibit commercial operations in the US of a company that is domiciled, headquarters or subject to the laws of a “country of concern”, including the People’s Republic of China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela and Cuba. Furthermore, the Act would designate TikTok, Bytedance and its subsidiaries or platforms controlled by them as covered social media companies that the President would be able to block.