By Isabelle Wilson-
The United States Senate has passed a bill that brings the possibility of a ban on TikTok one step closer, signalling a significant development in the ongoing debate surrounding the popular social media platform’s ownership.
The bill, included as part of a broader $95 billion package providing foreign aid to Ukraine and Israel, mandates ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based parent company, to divest itself of the app within nine months.
An additional three-month extension is granted for finalizing the sale, failing which the app faces the prospect of being blocked in the US.
The Senate’s approval of the bill underscores long-standing concerns among policymakers in Washington regarding TikTok’s ownership and the potential risks associated with the Chinese government’s access to user data.
With approximately 170 million users in the US alone, TikTok has emerged as a cultural phenomenon, particularly among Gen Z users. However, fears over data privacy and national security have fueled calls for greater scrutiny and regulation of the platform.
ByteDance’s response to the bill is anticipated to include legal challenges, with the company likely to argue that the proposed measures infringe upon the First Amendment rights of TikTok’s US user base.
Additionally, TikTok’s content creators, who rely on the platform for income, may oppose the forced sale, further complicating the situation.
Despite TikTok’s assurances that it has never provided US user data to Chinese authorities, concerns persist over the potential for influence and surveillance.
The platform’s meteoric rise has drawn attention from lawmakers across the political spectrum, with bipartisan support for measures aimed at addressing perceived security risks.
The bill’s passage through the Senate represents a culmination of years of scrutiny and debate surrounding TikTok’s presence in the US.
While the platform remains immensely popular, its future in the country hangs in the balance as stakeholders await further developments, including potential legal challenges and negotiations regarding the sale of the app.