By: Lily McCormick

On Tuesday, a bill was introduced that could federally regulate or band foreign apps such as TikTok.

The Bill is titled the “Restricting the Emergence of Security Threats that Risk Information and Communications Technology Act” or RESTRICT Act. 

The press release from National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan supports the bill saying, it’s “a systematic framework for addressing technology-based threats to the security and safety of Americans.”

The RESTRICT Act has seen support from both parties and now has an endorsement from The White House. 

The bill does not name any particular app that is it targeting, but lists six countries in which the secretary of commerce would have the power to regulate the technology produced from them. These countries include China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia and Venezuela. 

But, with TikTok being owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, it is directly in the line of fire to be federally banned by the bill. 

Currently, The University of Montevallo has already banned the app from being used on University Wifi or University owned devices. This came after Kay Ivey’s executive order to ban the app on all Alabama government networks citing the security issues that come with TikTok. 

However, with an all-out federal ban on the table, many students are frustrated with the potential loss of their favorite app. 

“I think it’s stupid, why ban something that’s just for us to have fun with,” said sophomore Montevallo student, Rhylee Miller. 

“Facebook and Instagram are sharing and selling our data just like TikTok it doesn’t make sense to ban it, there are bigger issues going on right now,” Miller said. 

The ban also brings up monetary questions about content creators who make a living on apps like TikTok. 

“I think a lot of people spend a lot of time on tiktok to make content and to make a living so to federal ban that is inane because thats where a lot of people make their money with brand deals and sponsorships,” said Montevallo student Dalton Brown. 

“It feels like a lot of bills lately are created to ban small things, like drag queens in Tennesee, and then are used to ban bigger things later on. I feel like the next step with this ban would be to take out other platforms like Youtube next,” Brown said. 

The bill’s proposal does not say how a ban would go into place explicitly, but its implications have not been taken lightly. 

However, it will still have to take many steps before it lands in front of President Biden to sign into law.