Amidst growing concerns over Chinese influence and data security, the Senate has passed legislation that would force TikTok’s China-based parent company, ByteDance, to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban. This contentious move represents the culmination of long-held bipartisan fears in Washington regarding the potential risks posed by TikTok’s ownership.
For years, lawmakers and administration officials have expressed concerns that Chinese authorities could force ByteDance to hand over U.S. user data or influence Americans by suppressing or promoting certain content on TikTok. These concerns have been fueled by the platform’s immense popularity, with over 170 million American users.
The bill, which was included as part of a larger $95 billion foreign aid package for Ukraine and Israel, passed with a vote of 79-18 and now goes to President Joe Biden for his signature. It extends the deadline for ByteDance to divest its stakes in TikTok from six months to nine months, with a possible three-month extension if a sale is in progress. Additionally, the bill bars ByteDance from controlling TikTok’s algorithm, which is responsible for personalizing users’ video feeds.
TikTok, which has consistently denied posing any security threats, has expressed plans to challenge the legislation in court. The company has previously seen some success with court challenges, having blocked a Montana law that would have banned TikTok use across the state and a Trump-era executive order that sought to ban the app.
Meanwhile, content creators who rely on TikTok for their livelihoods have voiced their opposition to the bill. They argue that it could have a detrimental impact on their ability to earn income and express themselves freely.
The passage of this legislation marks a significant escalation in the ongoing debate over TikTok’s ownership and the potential risks it poses to U.S. national security and data privacy. It remains to be seen how the courts will handle TikTok’s legal challenge, and the ultimate fate of the platform in the United States is far from certain.
