President Biden signs TikTok ban into law: A look at the journey and what lies ahead

TikTok, the popular social media app, is once again facing an uncertain future in the United States. President Joe Biden signed a bill on Wednesday that includes a deadline for TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to divest within nine months or face a ban on app stores distributing the app in the U.S. This move comes after strong bipartisan approval in the House and a 79-18 Senate vote in favor of the bill.

The concern surrounding TikTok stems from its ownership by Chinese tech giant ByteDance, raising national security worries among U.S. officials. The bill, known as the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, aims to separate the company from its Chinese ownership or force it out of the country.

The Senate and House both played a role in advancing the bill, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee pushing for the legislation. Despite TikTok’s efforts to rally its users against the potential ban, the bill passed through both chambers with overwhelming support.

While there is no public evidence of China compromising TikTok’s data, the U.S. government remains wary of the app’s ties to a foreign adversary. TikTok has denied these accusations, emphasizing that ByteDance is not an agent of China.

The road ahead for TikTok remains uncertain, with potential legal challenges and opposition from China complicating the situation. As the legislation moves forward, the fate of TikTok in the U.S. hangs in the balance, with millions of users and creators closely watching the developments.