Congress took a significant step towards potentially banning TikTok nationwide with the finalization of legislation on Tuesday. The bill, which passed the Senate as part of a broader foreign aid package supporting Israel and Ukraine, was approved by the House on Saturday. The legislation now awaits President Joe Biden's signature.
If signed into law, the bill would require TikTok to either find a new owner within a few months or face a complete ban in the United States. This development marks a significant escalation in the ongoing scrutiny and challenges faced by the popular social media platform.
The move comes amid growing concerns over data privacy and national security risks associated with TikTok's Chinese ownership. Lawmakers have expressed worries about the potential for user data to be accessed by the Chinese government, prompting calls for stricter regulations or an outright ban.
TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, has been at the center of a geopolitical and technological battle between the US and China. The platform has faced numerous challenges and legal threats in recent years, with the latest legislation posing a serious threat to its US operations.
While President Biden is expected to sign the bill, the exact timeline for TikTok to comply with the new regulations remains uncertain. The company will likely face intense pressure to find a suitable buyer or risk being shut out of the lucrative US market.
As the situation continues to unfold, TikTok users and stakeholders are closely monitoring the developments and preparing for potential changes to the platform's operations in the US. The outcome of this legislative action could have far-reaching implications for the future of TikTok and the broader landscape of social media regulation.
