The Senate passed legislation that would force TikTok’s China-based parent company, ByteDance, to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban. The bill, included in a larger package providing aid to Ukraine and Israel, passed with a vote of 79-18 and will now go to President Joe Biden for signing. The original version of the bill had given ByteDance six months to divest its stake in TikTok, but the revised legislation extends the deadline to nine months and allows for a possible three-month extension if a sale is in progress. The bill also prohibits ByteDance from controlling TikTok’s algorithm.
Lawmakers in Washington have long been concerned about Chinese threats and the ownership of TikTok, which is used by 170 million Americans. Bipartisan fears over Chinese authorities potentially accessing U.S. user data or influencing content on TikTok led to the passage of the legislation. Opponents of the bill argue that the Chinese government could obtain information on Americans through other means and suggest implementing a comprehensive federal data privacy law instead. Some opponents also question the lack of evidence showing TikTok shares U.S. user information with Chinese authorities or that China has manipulated the platform’s algorithm.
While the bill aims to address national security concerns, critics raise issues regarding free speech, consumer privacy, and potential abuse by future administrations. Chinese officials have expressed opposition to a forced sale of TikTok, and the company itself is preparing a lawsuit to challenge the legislation in court. TikTok has had previous success with legal challenges, including blocking state-level bans and a previous executive order from former President Donald Trump. Talks with U.S. regulators about TikTok’s future have been ongoing, and ByteDance’s top attorney involved in these discussions recently announced his resignation.
As the future of TikTok remains uncertain, content creators who rely on the platform for income have expressed concerns about the potential impact of the legislation. Some creators gathered in front of the Capitol building to protest the bill and emphasize the platform’s significance to millions of Americans. TikTok content creators believe the platform is safe due to measures like Project Texas, a $1.5 billion plan to store U.S. user data on Oracle servers. The situation continues to evolve, with TikTok’s parent company and the U.S. government engaging in discussions and legal actions to address the complex issues surrounding the popular social media platform.
