Last month, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would force TikTok’s Chinese-owned parent company ByteDance to sell the popular app or face bans in the United States.
The bill has since been handed over to the Senate, but its future remains uncertain.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) made a splash on Saturday by combining the adjustment measure with a $95 billion foreign aid package that passed easily in the House.
The TikTok bill tied to the foreign aid package has different language than the previous bill passed by the House in March.
One of the new measures would extend ByteDance’s timeline for selling TikTok from six months to one year, with Senate Commerce Committee Chairwoman Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) sponsoring the bill in the Senate. This was a forced adjustment. The House of Representatives passed the foreign aid bill as a four-item bill, but it is being sent to the Senate as one of the bills.
What does the future of TikTok look like now?
Why do lawmakers want to ban TikTok?
TikTok is facing backlash on Capitol Hill over its relationship with China. Supporters of the bill argue that banning TikTok would prevent the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from accessing U.S. user data that could be used for espionage.
TikTok countered that it was not required to provide data to CPP.
TikTok has also come under scrutiny for its algorithm that recommends sensitive videos, which critics have accused of being a national security threat, especially ahead of the upcoming presidential election.
What happens next?
A bill to ban TikTok is currently before the Senate.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer Said The House is scheduled to consider the foreign aid bill on Tuesday.
President Biden has expressed support for the bill in its entirety, including a potential ban on the app, and said he would sign a bill that could ultimately ban TikTok if it reaches his desk.
How does banning work?
The law prohibits the Google Play Store and App Store from updating or distributing TikTok.
However, USAToday points out that in the past, people have found ways to circumvent similar bans, such as changing their location or using a VPN.
When will the ban come into effect?
The ban will go into effect if ByteDance decides not to sell within the allotted period.
Recent legislation has extended TikTok’s sales period from 180 days to 270 days. An additional 90-day extension could be added if Biden gives permission.
Any ban would likely face legal challenges from supporters and TikTok itself, and could have a lengthy deadline.
TikTok and its users successfully fought back against state-level bans.
What this means for the future of TikTok
If TikTok’s owners decide to sell or a ban is enacted, someone else could buy it.
Former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Shark Tank investor Kevin O’Leary are among those who have expressed interest.
Do Americans want TikTok banned?
Almost half of participants in March’s CNBC All-America Economics poll He said TikTok should be sold to a non-Chinese company or banned.
The poll found 60% of Republicans supported a ban or divestment, while 40% of Democrats said the same.
Young Americans are less supportive of the ban. A CNBC poll found that 48% of 18 to 34-year-olds oppose the ban.
About 50% of Americans support a ban, according to the Pew Research Center investigation Released in March. This is 28% higher than those who said they did not support the ban.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
