Photo: Solen Feyissa / Unsplash
US President Biden signed a foreign aid bill that includes a provision effectively banning TikTok in the US unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sells the app within a year. This "divest-or-ban" clause gives ByteDance nine months to find a buyer, with a potential three-month extension from the President if progress is shown.
The bill had initially stalled in the Senate after passing the House. However, it was strategically attached to a critical foreign aid package, pressuring the Senate to consider it. This tactic, along with a longer divestment window, swayed some undecided lawmakers.
TikTok plans to legally challenge the law, potentially delaying a ban while the courts decide its fate. Another uncertainty is China's reaction. Will they allow ByteDance to sell TikTok, particularly its user-engagement algorithm, considered the app's core value?
Despite the challenge, TikTok remains committed. "As we continue to challenge this unconstitutional ban, we will continue investing and innovating to ensure TikTok remains a space where Americans of all walks of life can safely come to share their experiences, find joy, and be inspired," said spokesperson Alex Haurek.
"Make no mistake, this is a ban," said TikTok CEO Shou Chew in a TikTok video. He emphasized the impact on users: "A ban on TikTok and a ban on you and your voice."