TikTok Faces Forced Sale as Senate Passes Legislation
The United States Senate has passed legislation that would force TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the popular social media platform within nine months. The bill, which is part of a larger $95 billion foreign aid package to Ukraine and Israel, passed by a vote of 79-18 and now goes to President Joe Biden for his signature.
The move comes amid long-standing concerns among lawmakers over national security risks posed by TikTok’s ownership by a Chinese company. Lawmakers have expressed worries that the Chinese government could pressure ByteDance to hand over U.S. user data or manipulate content on the platform.
The legislation gives ByteDance nine months to divest its stake in TikTok, with a possible three-month extension if a sale is in progress. It also bars the company from controlling TikTok’s algorithm, which is responsible for tailoring users’ video feeds based on their interests.
TikTok and ByteDance have consistently denied that they pose a national security threat. The company has also previously challenged efforts to ban the platform in the United States, successfully blocking an executive order issued by former President Donald Trump in 2020.
TikTok has been in negotiations with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) regarding its future in the United States. However, on Sunday, Erich Andersen, a top attorney for ByteDance who led the talks with the U.S. government, announced his resignation from his role.
Meanwhile, TikTok content creators have been expressing their opposition to the legislation. On Tuesday, some creators gathered outside the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., holding signs and urging lawmakers to protect their livelihoods. Tiffany Cianci, a content creator with over 140,000 followers on TikTok, organized the protest and emphasized the importance of the platform for many creators.
The passage of the legislation is a significant development in the ongoing debate over TikTok’s ownership and potential security risks. It remains to be seen whether the bill will withstand legal challenges and what the ultimate outcome will be for the popular social media platform.
