The Senate has approved legislation that would force TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the social media platform within nine months. This move comes amidst concerns over the potential misuse of American user data and influence by the Chinese government. The bill also prohibits TikTok from controlling its algorithm, which has played a significant role in the platform’s popularity. The legislation now heads to President Biden for his signature. TikTok has expressed its opposition and has indicated that it will seek legal action to block the ban.
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The U.S. Senate has approved a bill that could force Chinese-owned social media app TikTok to be sold or banned in the United States. The bill, which passed by a 79-18 vote, would require TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to divest its ownership within 90 days or face a ban. The measure is attached to a larger aid package for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan, which President Biden has voiced his support for.
The Senate has passed legislation compelling TikTok’s parent company ByteDance to divest its ownership in the video-sharing platform or face a US ban. This follows growing bipartisan concerns over the potential for Chinese influence and surveillance through TikTok’s operations. The bill provides a nine-month deadline for ByteDance to sell TikTok, with a possible three-month extension if a sale is in progress. However, it prohibits ByteDance from controlling TikTok’s recommendation algorithm, which plays a crucial role in determining user content. While the bill is expected to face legal challenges from TikTok, the Biden administration has indicated its support and intends to sign it into law.
In a move met with expected legal challenges, the Senate has passed legislation that would force TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to divest its ownership of the social media platform within nine months to mitigate perceived national security concerns. This provision is part of a larger foreign aid package, which now heads to President Biden for his signature. Lawmakers have expressed fears about Chinese influence over TikTok, citing the potential for user data collection or content manipulation. Opponents argue that a ban is an extreme measure and that comprehensive data privacy laws should be implemented instead. TikTok has denied any wrongdoing and is preparing legal action. Content creators reliant on TikTok have voiced their concerns, gathering at the Capitol to protest the bill.
The US Senate has overwhelmingly voted in favor of a bill that would prohibit the popular social media app TikTok in the United States unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, fully divests from it. The bill passed with only 17 senators voting against it, following its passage in the House with a vote of 360-58 on Saturday. The legislation garnered strong bipartisan support, with its inclusion in a broader foreign-aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan worth $95.3 billion likely contributing to its success. If signed by President Joe Biden, the bill could significantly impact TikTok’s presence in the US, as ByteDance has previously indicated it has no intention of separating from the social network it created.
The US Senate has approved a foreign aid package that includes a measure that could force ByteDance, the Chinese-owned parent company of TikTok, to sell the popular social media app or face a ban in the United States. The bill now heads to President Biden for his signature, after which ByteDance would have up to a year to complete a sale of TikTok. Lawmakers have expressed concerns that TikTok’s ownership by a China-based company could pose national security risks, citing a Chinese law that compels companies to share internal information with the government. TikTok has stated that it stores US user data in Singapore and is not subject to Chinese law, but some lawmakers remain skeptical.
The US Senate is considering a bill that could ban TikTok in the US if its Chinese owner, ByteDance, does not sell the app. The measure, included in a foreign aid package, has bipartisan support, with proponents citing concerns about the Chinese Communist Party’s potential access to TikTok user data and its threat to national security. However, some senators, including Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey, have raised concerns about a potential ban’s impact on free speech.
TikTok and its parent company ByteDance have collectively invested over $7 million this year in lobbying efforts to prevent a potential ban of the app in the United States. ByteDance has spent a record $2.68 million on in-house lobbyists, while TikTok has allocated over $4.5 million to an ad campaign opposing legislation targeting the app. These expenditures aim to educate policymakers about the legislation’s potential impact on TikTok’s 170 million American users. The disclosures indicate that TikTok officials have lobbied Congress and the Biden administration, including the National Security Council and the Office of Management and Budget. While the House has passed legislation that would require ByteDance to divest TikTok within nine months, the Senate is expected to vote on a similar bill on Tuesday. Additionally, ByteDance has retained external consultants, including veteran lobbyist David Urban, to influence Congress.
TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, has vowed to challenge a proposed bill in the U.S. Congress that would force it to divest its ownership stake in the popular video-sharing app. The move sets the stage for a potential legal battle between the U.S. government and one of China’s largest tech companies. ByteDance argues that the bill violates the First Amendment rights of TikTok’s 170 million American users and has a strong chance of prevailing in court. However, a protracted legal fight could damage TikTok’s brand and lead to a loss of users and revenue.
Legislation requiring TikTok to be sold or face a nationwide ban is rapidly moving through Congress and is expected to become law this week. The move has sparked concerns over the app’s national security risks, with lawmakers citing fears that Chinese government officials could gain access to data on millions of Americans or manipulate the platform for disinformation campaigns. TikTok has denied these claims and is preparing to challenge the law in court, arguing that it violates the First Amendment rights of its American users. The ban would mark an unprecedented step by the US government to shut down a social media platform, and it remains uncertain how quickly or if it will be implemented.