The United States’ Senate has passed a bill that could lead to the banning of TikTok in the United States.
The bill, which is part of a larger package, gives ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, a nine-month window to sell its stake in the app or face a ban.
This marks a significant step towards potentially banning the app which has been the subject of concerns over data privacy and potential national security risks.
The bill, which was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday April 23 received widespread support among lawmakers, with 79 Senators voting in favor and 18 against.
“For years we’ve allowed the Chinese Communist party to control one of the most popular apps in America that was dangerously short-sighted,” said Senator Marco Rubio, the top Republican on the Intelligence Committee.
“A new law is going to require its Chinese owner to sell the app. This is a good move for America.”
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If ByteDance fails to sell its stake in TikTok, the app could face a ban in the US, posing significant threats for the app’s future.
The bill is expected to be signed into law by President Joe Biden, who has previously expressed concerns about TikTok’s data privacy practices.
Bejing Condemns the TikTok ban
The implications of this move extend beyond the US, as any sale would require approval from Chinese officials.
Beijing has already voiced its opposition to such a move, saying that the process could take years.
If TikTok is banned in the US, it would be a significant blow to the app’s user base, which includes millions of Americans.
Additionally, the social media company said last week that the bill would “trample the free speech rights of 170 million Americans, devastate seven million businesses, and shutter a platform that contributes $24 billion to the US economy, annually.”
US fears over Chinese spying
The passage of the bill marks the culmination of long-held fears in Washington over Chinese threats and TikTok’s ownership.
For years, US lawmakers have expressed concerns that Chinese authorities could force ByteDance to hand over user data or influence Americans by suppressing or promoting certain content on TikTok.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairperson Maria Cantwell defended the bill, stating that Congress was not acting to punish ByteDance or TikTok but to prevent foreign adversaries from conducting espionage, surveillance, and maligned operations.
Also Read: TikTok Faces Ban in US Amid Free Speech Debate
Opponents of the bill argue that the Chinese government could easily obtain information on Americans through commercial data brokers and that the best way to protect US consumers is through implementing a comprehensive data privacy law.
They also note that there is no public evidence that TikTok has shared U.S. user information with Chinese authorities or that Chinese officials have ever messed with its algorithm.
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