The Senate is now considering a bill that could potentially lead to a ban on TikTok in the United States. The bill, which was recently passed by the House of Representatives, would require TikTok’s owner, ByteDance, to sell the platform to an American company within a year or face a ban.
To expedite the process, House Speaker Mike Johnson combined the bill with another one that allows the US to seize Russian assets. These bills were then bundled with aid packages for countries like Taiwan, Israel, and Ukraine. The Senate will soon vote on this package, which includes the bill targeting TikTok.
For years, American politicians have raised concerns about security risks associated with TikTok due to ByteDance’s obligations to share data with the Chinese government. President Joe Biden has indicated that he will sign the legislation if it passes the Senate, despite potential legal challenges from TikTok and its users.
However, ByteDance believes that the legislation is ultimately aiming for a total ban in the US. As the situation unfolds, TikTok’s future in the American market remains uncertain.