US Senate Passes Bill to Force TikTok Sale or Face Ban
The US Senate has unanimously passed legislation that would force TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell the popular social media platform within nine months or face a ban. The bill, which was included in a $95 billion package of foreign aid to Ukraine and Israel, is driven by bipartisan concerns over Chinese threats and the potential for TikTok to compromise the personal data of its 170 million American users.
Lawmakers and administration officials have long 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. The bill would also bar ByteDance from controlling TikTok’s algorithm, which feeds users videos based on their interests and has made the platform a trendsetting phenomenon.
The passage of the legislation is a culmination of long-held concerns in Washington over Chinese threats and the ownership of TikTok. For years, lawmakers have argued that TikTok’s Chinese ownership poses a national security risk, citing the possibility that the Chinese government could force ByteDance to hand over user data or censor content on the platform.
TikTok has repeatedly denied posing a security threat and has said it would never share user data with the Chinese government. The company has also said it is committed to protecting the privacy of its users and has implemented a number of measures to safeguard their data.
Despite TikTok’s denials, the US government has continued to express concerns about the platform. In November 2022, the Trump administration issued an executive order that would have banned TikTok from operating in the United States. However, the order was blocked by a federal court, and TikTok has continued to operate in the US.
The Biden administration has taken a more nuanced approach to TikTok than the Trump administration. While the Biden administration shares some of the concerns raised by the Trump administration, it has also recognized the popularity of TikTok and its importance to American users.
The legislation passed by the Senate is a compromise that reflects the Biden administration’s approach to TikTok. The bill does not ban TikTok outright, but it does give ByteDance nine months to sell the platform to a US company. If ByteDance is unable to sell TikTok within that timeframe, the platform will be banned from operating in the US.
The bill is now headed to the House of Representatives, where it is expected to face a more difficult path to passage. The House is controlled by Republicans, many of whom are skeptical of TikTok. If the House does not pass the bill, TikTok will be allowed to continue operating in the US.
The future of TikTok in the US is uncertain. The bill passed by the Senate is a significant step towards a ban, but it is not yet clear whether the bill will become law. TikTok is likely to continue to fight the legislation, and it is possible that the bill will be blocked by the courts.
In the meantime, TikTok users should be aware of the potential risks associated with using the platform. While TikTok has said it is committed to protecting user data, it is always possible that the Chinese government could force ByteDance to hand over user data or censor content on the platform.
