The US Senate has passed a bill that could lead to the banning of TikTok in America due to national security concerns.
Under this bill, TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, has nine months to divest its stake in the app, or else it faces being blocked in the United States. President Joe Biden has indicated his intention to sign the bill into law promptly upon receipt.
When approached for comment, TikTok informed the BBC that it did not have an immediate response to this development. Previously, ByteDance had stated its opposition to any forced sale of TikTok.
Doug Calidas, a tech expert at Harvard University’s Belfer Center, emphasized the significance of this legislative action, noting the unusual speed with which it moved through both chambers of Congress, reflecting a high level of public concern.
Should ByteDance be compelled to sell TikTok, any potential deal would require approval from Chinese authorities. However, China has pledged to resist such a move, potentially leading to protracted legal battles that could delay the app’s blocking in the US, possibly even reaching the Supreme Court.
The legislation grants ByteDance nine months to offload TikTok, with an additional three-month grace period. However, finding a suitable buyer willing to navigate the complex regulatory landscape and meet the expected high price tag could prove challenging.
Failure to sell the app within the stipulated timeframe could result in its eventual blocking in the US. The primary concern driving this action is the fear that TikTok could be exploited for spying or propagandistic purposes by the Chinese government, despite TikTok's consistent denial of such allegations.
US lawmakers may also face public scrutiny over the potential ban, given TikTok's vast user base of over 170 million Americans.
