The clock is ticking on TikTok after the Senate passed a bill banning the social media app in the United States unless it is sold off by its Chinese owner, ByteDance. The U.S. government alleges that TikTok’s Chinese ownership poses a national security risk, as the app could potentially be used to collect data on American users for the Chinese government. ByteDance denies these allegations, claiming that it does not share any data with the Chinese government.
The bill passed by the Senate would give ByteDance nine months to divest from TikTok. If a ban goes into effect, TikTok would not disappear from users’ phones, but updates and new downloads would not be available from U.S. app stores.
The bill has garnered significant support in Congress, with only 48 votes against it in the House. However, it is expected to face numerous legal challenges before it can take effect. Critics of the bill argue that it is an act of censorship that will disproportionately impact young people in the United States.
The bill’s passage reflects growing concerns in the United States about the potential security risks posed by Chinese-owned technology companies. In recent years, the U.S. government has taken steps to restrict the use of Chinese telecommunications equipment and software in critical infrastructure. The TikTok ban is the latest in a series of measures aimed at addressing these concerns.
