Senate Passes TikTok Ban Bill
Bipartisan Legislation Forces TikTok to Divest from Chinese Parent Company
Published 900 PM EDT Sat April 20 2024
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company, ByteDance, to divest from the popular social media app within 180 days. The bill, which passed on a bipartisan 352-65 vote, is a significant step towards addressing concerns about TikTok's potential national security risks.
The bill's passage comes amidst heightened scrutiny of TikTok over its ties to the Chinese government. ByteDance is a Chinese company, and there are concerns that the Chinese government could use TikTok to collect data on American users or spread propaganda.
The TikTok ban bill was tied to a 95 billion package of foreign aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The aid package is intended to help these countries defend themselves against Russian aggression, Iranian threats, and Chinese military expansion, respectively.
The Senate's passage of the TikTok ban bill is a major victory for the Biden administration, which has been pushing for a ban on the app for months. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives, where it is expected to face a tougher battle.
If the TikTok ban bill becomes law, it would be a major blow to ByteDance. TikTok is one of the most popular apps in the world, with over 1 billion active users. A ban in the United States would significantly reduce the app's global reach.
The TikTok ban bill is a controversial piece of legislation. Critics argue that it is an unnecessary overreach by the government and that it would harm American consumers. Supporters of the bill argue that it is necessary to protect national security.
The debate over the TikTok ban bill is likely to continue as the bill moves through the House of Representatives. It remains to be seen whether the bill will ultimately be signed into law.
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