In a significant move, the Senate approved legislation on Tuesday that mandates the sale of TikTok, the popular social media platform owned by a Chinese-based parent company. The bill, passed as part of a $95 billion foreign aid package supporting Ukraine and Israel, garnered a 79-18 vote and is set to be signed by President Joe Biden.
House Republicans attached the TikTok bill to the larger package last week, accelerating its progress through Congress after negotiations with the Senate. Initially proposing a six-month deadline for ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to divest its platform stakes, the revised legislation extends this period to nine months, with a potential three-month extension if a sale is underway.
The bill also includes provisions to prevent ByteDance from controlling TikTok’s algorithm, a critical aspect of the platform’s functionality. Concerns over Chinese influence and data security have long haunted TikTok, which boasts 170 million American users.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairwoman Maria Cantwell emphasized the legislation’s intent to safeguard against foreign espionage and protect vulnerable Americans. However, critics argue that banning TikTok lacks sufficient justification and could be addressed more effectively through comprehensive federal data privacy laws.
TikTok has vowed to challenge the legislation in court, signaling a potential legal battle ahead. Despite previous court successes, the company faces an unprecedented effort to prevent federal legislation from taking effect.
Amidst these developments, TikTok content creators have voiced concerns over the platform’s uncertain future, rallying against the bill in front of the Capitol. Their advocacy underscores the livelihoods at stake as policymakers grapple with complex geopolitical and privacy issues surrounding TikTok’s ownership and operation.
