TikTok Ban: US Senate Passes Bill to Ban Chinese App, Await Biden’s Approval
Washington, D.C., April 24, 2024 – The U.S. Senate has voted 79-18 in favor of a bill to ban the Chinese app TikTok, escalating the challenges faced by Chinese apps in America. Pending President Joe Biden’s signature, the bill seeks to prohibit TikTok’s operations in the United States, prompting a requirement for the app’s ownership to revert to the company.
Awaiting President Biden’s approval, the bill awaits finalization after garnering a 79-18 vote in the U.S. Senate.
Should President Biden approve the bill, the Chinese-owned TikTok will be compelled to reassume ownership. Failure to comply may lead to TikTok’s complete banishment from the United States.
President Biden’s decision is pivotal in determining the fate of TikTok. ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, has a one-year deadline to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations or risk sanctions.
The deal is subject to a nine-month timeline, with an additional 90-day extension possible if negotiations progress. However, should ByteDance fail to sell TikTok to an American buyer within this timeframe, TikTok’s presence in the U.S. will cease entirely.
The concerns surrounding TikTok primarily revolve around its Chinese ownership and the potential compromise of American user data by the authoritarian Chinese government.
Driven by national security apprehensions, the U.S. government aims to prevent Chinese access to user data. Despite this, TikTok asserts that it has never shared American user data with Chinese authorities, refuting the allegations.
The move to ban TikTok reflects broader tensions between the United States and China, particularly in the realm of technology and national security. As the situation unfolds, the future of TikTok’s operations in America remains uncertain, pending official decisions from President Biden and ByteDance’s actions in compliance with regulatory requirements.
