Passage of TikTok Legislation Raises Concerns and Prepares for Legal Challenges
The Senate has passed contentious legislation that compels TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its ownership of the platform within nine months. This move is driven by long-standing bipartisan apprehensions regarding Chinese threats and the ownership of TikTok, which boasts 170 million American users.
Lawmakers have expressed concerns about potential Chinese government coercion of ByteDance to hand over U.S. user data or influence American perspectives through content suppression or promotion on TikTok. However, opponents argue that such data could be obtained through other means, such as commercial data brokers.
The revised legislation provides ByteDance with a nine-month deadline to sell TikTok, with a possible three-month extension if a sale is in progress. It also bars the company from controlling TikTok’s algorithm, which has fueled the platform’s popularity.
The passage of this legislation is a culmination of long-held fears in Washington about Chinese influence and the ownership of TikTok. As the bill heads to President Biden’s desk, TikTok has announced its intention to challenge it legally.
Many opponents of the TikTok measure advocate for comprehensive federal data privacy laws that target all companies, regardless of origin. They note the lack of public evidence showing TikTok sharing U.S. user information with Chinese authorities or Chinese officials tampering with its algorithm.
TikTok Content Creators Voice Concerns
Content creators who rely on TikTok have expressed their concerns, gathering at the Capitol to protest the bill. They argue that TikTok is the safest platform for users due to its $1.5 billion mitigation plan to store U.S. user data on Oracle’s servers.
Legal Challenges Ahead
TikTok has successfully challenged previous legal actions, but it has never sought to prevent federal legislation from going into effect. The company is preparing a lawsuit to block the implementation of this legislation.
Consequences for TikTok’s Future
The passage of this legislation has significant implications for TikTok’s future in the United States. Legal challenges and negotiations with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States will shape the platform’s trajectory.
The outcome of these legal battles and negotiations will determine whether TikTok will remain accessible to its vast American user base or be forced to divest or face a ban.
