The US Senate has taken a significant step towards potentially banning or forcing the sale of TikTok, a popular video-sharing app owned by the Chinese company ByteDance.
The Senate voted 79-18 in favor of a bill that would give TikTok nine months to sell its US operations or face a ban. The bill is part of a larger funding package providing aid to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan. It now awaits President Biden’s signature, who has indicated that he will sign it into law.
The legislation has bipartisan support and is seen as the most significant threat to TikTok’s US operations, which boast over 170 million users. Lawmakers have expressed concerns about the app’s Chinese ownership structure and its potential impact on US data security, despite TikTok’s denials.
TikTok is expected to challenge the bill, setting the stage for a high-stakes legal battle. The platform has previously proposed a plan to safeguard US data by storing it with the American tech giant Oracle. However, this has not deterred lawmakers from pursuing legislation to grant the executive branch power to restrict the platform.
The bill’s passage comes after years of scrutiny over TikTok’s ties to its Chinese parent company. Notable figures, including former President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, have opposed a potential ban, citing concerns about free speech and national security. Meanwhile, former US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley has supported the ban to prevent the Chinese Communist Party’s influence on American society.
Analysts believe that Microsoft and Oracle could emerge as the real winners by acquiring TikTok, with Meta Platforms Inc.’s Mark Zuckerberg and Alphabet Inc.’s Sundar Pichai also benefiting from the situation.
