The Senate passed a bill on Tuesday to force TikTok’s parent company to sell the platform or face a ban. The bill is part of a larger foreign aid package and will now go to President Biden for signing.
The original bill gave ByteDance six months to sell TikTok, but it was extended to nine months in the revised version. The bill also prohibits ByteDance from controlling TikTok’s algorithm.
Lawmakers are concerned about Chinese threats and data privacy issues related to TikTok. Some opponents argue that a comprehensive federal data privacy law would be a better solution.
Sen. Ron Wyden has concerns about the bill’s impact on free speech and consumer privacy. China has opposed the forced sale of TikTok and the company is preparing to challenge the legislation in court.
TikTok creators have voiced their opposition to the bill, with some gathering at the Capitol to protest. The future of TikTok remains uncertain as negotiations continue with U.S. authorities.
