The US Senate has passed a bill that requires BYTEDANCE, the Chinese company that owns Tiktok, to sell the platform or face a ban in the United States. The bill is now awaiting President Joe Biden’s signature, as he has expressed his intention to sign it.
If ByTedance does not comply after the president’s approval, they will have up to a year to sell Tiktok, or else the platform will be banned in the US. The bill grants BYTEDANCE 9 months initially, with the possibility of a 3-month extension if negotiations progress. However, potential legal challenges may delay the implementation of the law.
The bill’s passage was made possible through a strategic political move in the House of Representatives, which had previously voted twice in favor of the bill. Initially, the bill was approved as a standalone measure with a 6-month transition period, but Senate leaders were uncertain about its future.
The bill was later included in the Foreign Assistance Package, heightening its priority and prompting the Senate to address Tiktok before other matters. The extended timeline for completing a sale also garnered more support in the Senate, culminating in a vote of 79 in favor and 18 against.
Political and security experts have raised concerns about the potential threat to American user data posed by Tiktok’s ownership by a Chinese company. There are fears that Chinese national security laws could compel the company to provide user information. Tiktok has claimed that it does not store American user data in China.
The Senate Intelligence Committee has warned that Tiktok could be used to covertly influence political discussions and social debates in favor of authoritarian regimes. The committee also highlighted the inadequacy of Project Texas, a proposed solution in 2022, as it allowed for control of algorithms and source code from China.
President Biden has announced his intention to sign the bill and address the American people once the legislation is on his desk. In response to the bill, a group of congressmen introduced a separate bill in March that would require BYTEDANCE to sell Tiktok within 6 months or face a US ban.
China’s government has criticized the pressure on Tiktok by Washington, with Beijing signaling that they would prefer a US ban over selling their American business. Additionally, there are reports that Tiktok may be preparing a lawsuit against the US as part of their efforts to defend the app’s freedom of operation.