The US Senate has recently approved a landmark bill that could result in the banning of TikTok in America, giving ByteDance, its Chinese owner, a nine-month window to sell its stake or face app blockage in the United States.
Once signed into law by President Joe Biden, the bill will set a precedent for ByteDance’s potential divestiture of TikTok. ByteDance has not provided an immediate response to this development but previously expressed opposition to any forced sale.
The legislation, passed alongside a package of four bills including military aid for various countries, garnered widespread support, with 79 Senators voting in favor and 18 against.
Senator Marco Rubio, the top Republican on the Intelligence Committee, emphasized the importance of severing ties between TikTok and the Chinese Communist Party, highlighting concerns over data security.
TikTok, which boasts millions of American users, has vehemently opposed the bill, arguing that it would infringe on free speech rights and have detrimental economic impacts.
While ByteDance asserts its independence from Chinese influence, the company’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, faced scrutiny from Congress regarding TikTok’s connections to Chinese authorities.
Efforts to thwart the potential ban included a lobbying campaign and rallying TikTok users and creators to oppose the bill.
Legal experts anticipate a prolonged legal battle, estimating it could take up to two years, with the possibility of further delays if a buyer for ByteDance’s stake is not secured within the nine-month timeframe.
The fate of TikTok in the US hangs in the balance as stakeholders navigate through regulatory and geopolitical complexities in the coming months.
