The US Senate has taken a significant step by passing a bill that could ultimately result in the prohibition of TikTok in the United States due to national security concerns linked to its Chinese ties. Under this new legislation, ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, has a designated period of nine months to sell its stake in the app, failing which, TikTok could face being banned in the country. The bill's passage signals a rapid response from lawmakers, with bipartisan support, and now awaits President Joe Biden's approval to become law.
The bill's journey to becoming law involves ByteDance being given a timeframe to divest its TikTok ownership, a move aimed at addressing fears that the app could be exploited for espionage or propaganda purposes by the Chinese government. However, the process is expected to face legal challenges and possibly reach the Supreme Court, extending the timeline for any final decisions regarding TikTok's fate in the US. The potential sale of TikTok is not without hurdles, as finding suitable buyers capable of taking over the platform, which may involve a significant financial investment, poses a challenge limiting potential purchasers.
TikTok and ByteDance have pushed back against the pressure to sell, asserting that the company is not acting as an agent for the Chinese government and highlighting its global ownership structure. The app's CEO, Shou Zi Chew, has pledged to defend the platform's interests using legal means. The potential threats to free speech rights and economic impacts raised by TikTok in response to the bill have added complexity to the debate surrounding the app's future in the US. Furthermore, the proposed ban on TikTok could lead to substantial civil liberties concerns and economic ramifications for the platform and its users, potentially spurring a prolonged legal battle.