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The US Senate has passed a controversial bill that would potentially ban TikTok, the popular social media app, if its parent company, ByteDance, does not divest its stake within nine months.
The bill is now awaiting President Joe Biden’s signature to become law.
The bill was part of a package of four bills that also included military aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and other US partners in the Indo-Pacific region.
With 79 Senators voting in favor of the bill and 18 opposed, the Senate has sent a clear message about its stance on the perceived national security risks posed by TikTok.
Senator Marco Rubio, a leading Republican on the Intelligence Committee, stressed the importance of cutting ties between TikTok and its Chinese overseers, citing concerns about data exploitation and national security risks.
He stated, “For years we’ve allowed the Chinese Communist Party to control one of the most popular apps in America that was dangerously short-sighted.
A new law is going to require its Chinese owner to sell the app. This is a good move for America.”
TikTok has been under intense scrutiny in the US over its ties to the Chinese government and concerns about data privacy.
Despite TikTok’s efforts to address these concerns by highlighting its global ownership structure, with 60% of the company owned by international investment firms, the US government remains skeptical.
ByteDance has been given a nine-month ultimatum to divest its stake in TikTok or face a ban in the US.
The company has not yet responded to the Senate’s decision, but it has previously opposed any pressure to sell TikTok.
The passage of this bill comes at a time of heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing.
China has already indicated that it will oppose any forced sale of TikTok, and legal experts predict that the process could be drawn out through legal battles.
University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias suggests that it could take approximately two years for the legal proceedings to conclude.
If a buyer is not found for ByteDance’s stake within the nine-month period, further delays in any definitive action against TikTok in the US could occur.
This development marks a significant moment in the ongoing saga surrounding TikTok and its future in the US.
As the world watches, the outcome of this legislation could have far-reaching implications for the global digital landscape and the relationship between the US and China.
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