The U.S. Senate has made a significant decision regarding the fate of TikTok by voting to approve a bill that would ban the popular app nationwide unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sells its stake in the platform.
This move is expected to lead to a legal battle between TikTok and the U.S. government, as TikTok argues that the legislation violates the First Amendment. If TikTok fails to win this battle, there is a real possibility that the app could be shut off for Americans.
President Biden, a supporter of the TikTok divest-or-ban measure, has indicated that he will sign the bill into law once it reaches his desk. Lawmakers have raised concerns about TikTok’s Chinese ownership, fearing that the app could be used for spying or spreading pro-China propaganda.
The Senate’s approval of the TikTok ban bill was part of a larger $95 billion foreign aid package to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The bill passed by a 79-18 vote, following the House’s approval over the weekend.
TikTok has already announced its intention to challenge the legislation in court once it becomes law. The company’s head of public policy for the Americas, Michael Beckerman, described the bill as a “clear violation” of the First Amendment and criticized it as an unprecedented deal between Republican Speaker Mike Johnson and President Biden.
Despite the concerns raised by lawmakers about national security threats posed by ByteDance’s ownership of TikTok, some senators emphasized that the goal is not to stifle free speech but to prevent potential risks associated with Chinese control over the app. Sen. Mark Warner highlighted the importance of safeguarding democratic systems from covert foreign influence.
While the ACLU and other advocacy groups have opposed the TikTok divest-or-ban legislation, proponents argue that it is necessary to ensure that apps are not controlled by adversarial foreign governments. The bill would require Apple and Google to refrain from hosting any “foreign adversary controlled application” in their app stores and web hosting services.
TikTok’s future in the U.S. remains uncertain as the legal battle unfolds, with Chinese officials expressing strong opposition to any forced sale of the app. The outcome of this dispute will have far-reaching implications for the app’s American users and the broader tech industry.
