The United States Senate has overwhelmingly passed a bill mandating ByteDance to offload the social media platform or face prohibition by a vote of 79 to 18.
“Named the ‘Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act,’ the bill is set to land on President Joe Biden’s desk for final approval, which he has pledged to sign into law.
“This bill, though not the first of its kind, garnered unprecedented bipartisan support, swiftly advancing through the House of Representatives before being integrated into a broader foreign aid package.
“If signed into law, TikTok would be given a year to sever ties with its parent company, ByteDance, or risk expulsion from U.S. app stores and web hosting services,” said a Senate spokesperson.
“TikTok has denounced the bill as unconstitutional and hinted at potential legal challenges, which could prolong the process of divestment or prohibition,” said a TikTok representative.
“Concerns surrounding TikTok’s alleged national security risks have long fueled skepticism among lawmakers and intelligence agencies.
“Despite ongoing classified briefings, the specifics of these concerns remain shrouded in mystery, prompting calls for declassification from some members of Congress.
“Yet, skepticism persists, with lawmakers and advocacy groups advocating for more robust privacy legislation as a superior safeguard for American citizens’ data,” noted a Senate Intelligence Committee member.
“TikTok’s CEO has echoed these sentiments, arguing that a forced sale would not address underlying data privacy issues.
“However, TikTok’s attempts to rally opposition against the bill have backfired. Congressional ire was incurred when the app inundated users with notifications about the legislation, prompting an influx of calls to Capitol Hill.
“Moreover, revelations of Chinese diplomats lobbying Congressional staffers to oppose the bill have heightened suspicions, with China officially denouncing the measure.
“Additionally, a Chinese law passed in 2020 could complicate any potential sale of TikTok by restricting ByteDance from including its recommendation algorithm,” the spokesperson said.
