US CONGRESS PASSES DIVEST-OR-BAN BILL ON TIKTOK: WHAT HAPPENS NOW
On Tuesday, the US Senate passed a bill mandating that the highly popular social media platform TikTok be sold off from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or face exclusion from the US market. This legislation forms a part of a substantial $95 billion foreign aid package that includes military support for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, and has successfully passed through Congress to await President Joe Biden's signature.
Concerns have been raised by US and other Western officials regarding TikTok's immense popularity among the youth, suggesting that it enables the Chinese government to gather data and conduct surveillance on its users, who number 170 million in the United States alone. Critics contend that TikTok acts in subordination to Beijing and serves as a medium for disseminating propaganda. However, these allegations are vehemently refuted by both China and the company.
This legislative action, which might lead to the unprecedented exclusion of a company from the US market, received approval in the Senate with a vote of 79-18, following strong bipartisan support in the House of Representatives three days earlier. President Biden has expressed his intention to sign the bill into law.
What is the main objective of the recent US legislation regarding TikTok?
The primary goal of the legislation is to compel ByteDance to divest its TikTok operations in the US within a specified timeframe—about nine months, with a potential three-month extension if necessary. This drastic step is intended to mitigate concerns that the Chinese government could access US user data or manipulate content to conduct espionage and spread propaganda.
How will TikTok respond to the legislation?
TikTok is expected to challenge the constitutionality of the legislation through the legal system. Immediately after the bill becomes law, TikTok may seek a preliminary injunction to halt its enforcement, thereby allowing the company to continue operations while the court considers the case. This legal approach is consistent with TikTok's previous strategies in confronting restrictive measures from US authorities.
What changes will TikTok users in the US notice in the interim?
Until the legal and corporate battles are resolved, TikTok users in the US are unlikely to experience any immediate changes to their app usage. The platform will continue to operate as usual, providing content tailored to individual preferences through its sophisticated algorithm, unless a court ruling or the completion of the divestiture alters the status quo.
What are the potential consequences if ByteDance does not comply with the divestiture order?
If ByteDance fails to sell TikTok within the allotted timeframe and no legal injunctions are in place, the app could be removed from major US app stores, effectively cutting off new downloads and potentially limiting functionality for existing installations. This would not only impact users but also millions of businesses that utilize the platform for marketing and community engagement.
How does the Chinese government view this legislation?
The Chinese government has opposed the forced sale of TikTok and is likely to view this legislation as another strain on US-China relations. China's regulation of technology exports, including algorithms like those used by TikTok, could complicate any potential sale, adding another layer of complexity to the negotiations and international diplomatic interactions.
(With inputs from agencies)