The United States Senate has passed legislation that would force TikTok to sell its operations in the country within 9 months, a move that has been met with both support and opposition.
The bill, which is part of a larger foreign aid package, aims to address concerns that the Chinese-owned platform poses a national security threat due to the potential for user data to be accessed by Beijing. It would also bar ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, from controlling the app’s algorithm, which has been credited with its success.
The legislation has been in the works for several years, with lawmakers from both parties expressing concerns about TikTok’s ownership structure. The Trump administration had previously attempted to ban the app but was blocked by the courts.
TikTok has denied that it shares user data with the Chinese government and has said that it will challenge the new legislation in court. The company has also argued that the sale would be complex and could take more than 9 months to complete.
Opponents of the bill say that it is an overreach and that it could set a precedent for the government to target other companies based on their country of origin. They also argue that there is no evidence that TikTok has ever shared user data with the Chinese government.
The bill now goes to President Biden, who has said that he will sign it into law. It is unclear what the future holds for TikTok if the legislation is upheld in court. The company could be forced to sell its operations in the United States, or it could continue to operate with restrictions. The legislation could also have implications for other Chinese-owned companies operating in the United States.
