Congress passed legislation this week that could lead to a nationwide ban on TikTok. The bill, part of a foreign aid package, gives TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, 270 days to sell TikTok or face consequences that include being banned from US app stores. President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill, which would require TikTok to find a new owner within months or be banned from the United States entirely.
If signed into law, the deadline for TikTok to find a buyer would be in January 2025, with the possibility of a 90-day extension if progress is made. The bill was attached to the foreign aid package in a procedural move to force a Senate vote on the legislation, making it more likely to pass. Biden, who supports the bill and the earlier TikTok legislation, is expected to sign it quickly.
TikTok could potentially take legal action against the US government if the bill is signed into law, arguing that it violates Americans’ constitutional rights and harms small businesses that depend on the app. The company has vowed to continue fighting, but First Amendment experts say the bill could infringe on Americans’ rights to access information from abroad. A court challenge could delay the implementation of the bill, but if TikTok fails to comply, it could face consequences.
The Chinese government’s opposition to a sale of TikTok could pose challenges for the company. China has implemented export controls on algorithms, which could include TikTok’s recommendation engine. If China refuses to allow ByteDance to sell TikTok’s algorithm, it could block the sale altogether. TikTok’s success without its algorithm, which has been a key factor in its popularity, is uncertain.
The legislation could have far-reaching implications for TikTok users and the company’s operations in the United States. Without a sale of TikTok within the specified timeframe, the app could face a ban, limiting access for millions of users. The potential legal challenges, political implications, and uncertainties surrounding the sale of TikTok make the situation complex and fraught with uncertainty for all involved parties.
