Senate Approves TikTok Sale or Ban Legislation
Amid concerns over national security, the Senate has passed a bill that would force ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to divest its ownership of the popular social media platform within nine months. If a sale is not completed within that timeframe, TikTok could face a potential ban in the United States.
The legislation, which is part of a larger $95 billion foreign aid package, passed with a 79-18 vote. It now goes to President Biden, who has expressed support for the TikTok proposal and is expected to sign it into law.
The bill’s passage marks a culmination of long-held bipartisan concerns in Washington over Chinese threats and the ownership of TikTok, which has over 170 million users in America. Lawmakers and administration officials have expressed fears that Chinese authorities could compel ByteDance to hand over U.S. user data or influence American content on the platform.
However, the bill has faced opposition from TikTok and content creators who rely on it for income. TikTok has repeatedly denied being a security threat and has declared its intention to challenge the legislation in court. Creators argue that the ban would harm their livelihoods and limit their ability to reach their audiences.
Despite these concerns, supporters of the bill maintain that the potential national security risks posed by TikTok outweigh the economic or social costs of a ban. They argue that the platform could be used by the Chinese government for espionage, surveillance, or malign operations that could harm Americans.
The bill also includes provisions to prevent foreign adversaries from obtaining sensitive personal data of Americans. However, these provisions have drawn criticism from civil liberties groups who argue that they are too broad and could infringe on the rights of journalists and others who publish personal information.
As the bill moves forward, it is likely to face legal challenges from TikTok and other parties. The company has had some success with court challenges in the past, but it has never sought to prevent federal legislation from going into effect.
Meanwhile, content creators who rely on TikTok for their livelihoods are actively advocating against the bill and urging lawmakers to reconsider. Their voices represent the economic and cultural impact that a TikTok ban could have on individuals and communities across the country.
