The United States Senate has overwhelmingly voted in favor of a bill that would ban TikTok in the United States unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, fully divests from it. The bill passed with a lopsided vote of just 17 senators voting against it, following its passage in the House with a vote of 360-58 on Saturday. The legislation, if signed by Joe Biden, could mean TikTok’s days are limited in the U.S. as ByteDance has indicated it has no plans to remove itself from the social network it founded.
The bill garnered strong bipartisan support, possibly because it was built into legislation that included a broader foreign-aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan that’s worth $95.3 billion. This move suggests that the bill’s passage was influenced by factors beyond TikTok’s specific situation, potentially including the ongoing geopolitical tensions with China.
The legislation’s passage through both the House and Senate with overwhelming majorities highlights the growing concerns among US lawmakers about the potential security risks posed by TikTok. These concerns stem from the app’s Chinese ownership and the possibility that the Chinese government could access user data or use the platform for propaganda purposes.
ByteDance, for its part, has repeatedly denied these allegations and has emphasized its commitment to protecting user privacy and complying with US laws. However, the company’s ties to the Chinese government have raised doubts among some US officials and lawmakers, leading to the push for legislation to ban the app.
It remains to be seen whether President Biden will sign the bill into law. If he does, it could have significant implications for TikTok’s operations in the United States. ByteDance would face a choice of either divesting from TikTok or ceasing its operations in the US market altogether. The company has previously stated that it has no intention of selling TikTok, but it is possible that the threat of a ban could force it to reconsider its stance.
