The Senate passed legislation on Tuesday that would require TikTok’s China-based parent company, ByteDance, to sell the popular social media platform or face a ban in the United States. The bill was included in a larger $95 billion foreign aid package and passed with a vote of 79-18, with President Joe Biden expected to sign it into law.
The legislation gives ByteDance nine months to sell TikTok, with a possible three-month extension if a sale is in progress. It also prohibits the company from controlling TikTok’s algorithm, which is a key component of the app’s success.
Lawmakers have long expressed concerns over Chinese ownership of TikTok, fearing that user data could be compromised or manipulated by Chinese authorities. The bill aims to prevent foreign adversaries from conducting espionage or harming Americans through the platform.
Opponents of the legislation argue that a comprehensive federal data privacy law would be a better solution to protect U.S. consumers. They also question the urgency of the threat posed by TikTok and the constitutional flaws of the bill.
ByteDance has stated its opposition to a forced sale of TikTok and plans to challenge the legislation in court. The company has had success with legal challenges in the past, including blocking a Montana law that would have banned TikTok’s use in the state.
TikTok content creators, who rely on the platform for income, have voiced their opposition to the bill, gathering in front of the Capitol building to protest. They argue that TikTok is a safe platform for users, pointing to Project Texas, a mitigation plan to store U.S. user data on servers owned by Oracle.
The future of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain as the company prepares for legal challenges and negotiations with government agencies. The passage of the legislation marks a significant development in the ongoing debate over Chinese-owned apps and national security concerns.