- Congress introduces bill to ban TikTok unless Chinese owner ByteDance divests US operations.
- The ban stems from concerns over data privacy and Chinese government influence.
- The bill faces mixed support and potential legal challenges from ByteDance.
A new bill in Congress aims to ban TikTok in the US unless its Chinese owner, ByteDance, sells its US operations to non-Chinese owners.
The primary concern driving the bill is TikTok’s Chinese ownership and the Chinese government’s control over Chinese companies, raising fears about data privacy and potential influence on American citizens.
The mechanics of a ban
The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act would not directly ban TikTok. They would prevent Apple and Google from distributing the app through their app stores and maintaining it via updates.
The bill would also ban US websites from hosting TikTok. If passed, ByteDance would have 180 days to divest its US TikTok operations.
The TikTok ban bill has bipartisan support, but concerns differ based on age and ideology. Older, Republican-leaning Americans are more concerned about TikTok, while younger, Democratic-leaning Americans are less concerned. Some Republican senators have expressed reservations about the bill.
Political dynamics and inconsistencies
Both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have made seemingly hypocritical statements regarding their stance on TikTok.
The bill is moving quickly through the House and is expected to pass this week. However, it would need approval from the Senate and President Biden to become law.
If the bill becomes law, ByteDance would likely contest it in court, making it difficult to imagine a ban taking effect before the US elections in 238 days.
