The US Senate has passed a foreign aid package that includes a provision addressing TikTok, the popular video-sharing platform owned by Chinese company ByteDance. This legislation, expected to become law, mandates ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a ban in the US.
ByteDance will have nine months initially to sell TikTok, with the possibility of a three-month extension if substantial progress is made. However, legal challenges could potentially delay the implementation of the law.
The inclusion of the TikTok bill in a foreign aid package was strategic move by the House of Representatives, which prompted the Senate to address the issue sooner than anticipated. The Senate approved the measure 79-18, securing additional time to negotiate a deal with ByteDance.
TikTok expressed concerns over the ban, claiming it would infringe upon the freedom of expression rights of millions of Americans and negatively impact businesses on the platform. Lawmakers and intelligence officials have raised apprehensions about TikTok’s Chinese ownership potentially jeopardizing American users’ data. The Chinese government’s national security laws have raised fears of data exposure. Despite TikTok being based in Singapore and claiming not to store US user data in China, there is concern over Beijing’s influence on content viewed by Americans. Senator Mark Warner highlighted this lack of trust in Chinese companies and the possibility of social media platforms being exploited by authoritarian regimes.
President Biden is prepared to sign the law into effect and address the nation upon receiving it. Once signed, this foreign aid package can commence, including shipments of weapons and equipment to Ukraine. This underscores how complex and international these issues are surrounding TikTok and American interests