In a move that has been in the making for months, the Senate has passed a bill that would ban TikTok if its owner, ByteDance, doesn’t sell it within a year. The bill, which is included in a foreign aid package, was passed with a vote of 79-18 on Tuesday. President Joe Biden will have to sign the bill to make it law, and according to the White House, he intends to do so on Wednesday.
Background
The Senate’s decision comes after the House passed a similar standalone bill in March that would ban TikTok or force its sale with a six-month time limit. However, the Senate never took up that bill. This time, the bill was tied to critical foreign aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, making it more difficult for Senators to oppose.
TikTok’s Response
TikTok has not released an official statement on the matter, but Michael Beckerman, the company’s head of public policy for the Americas, said that the company plans to challenge the move in courts. "This is an unprecedented deal worked out between the Republican Speaker and President Biden," he said in a memo to TikTok’s U.S. staff earlier this week. "The stage that the bill is signed, we will move to the courts for a legal challenge."
What’s at Stake
The bill gives ByteDance nine months to force a sale with a 90-day extension, effectively giving them a year to complete the deal. TikTok has argued that the ban would "trample the free speech rights of 170 million Americans" and devastate 7 million businesses.
TikTok’s Economic Impact
In an economic impact report released earlier this month, TikTok stated that it generated $14.7 billion for small to mid-sized companies in the country. The report also noted that more than 7 million U.S.-based businesses rely on the platform.
Civil Rights Groups Weigh In
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) have opposed the app’s ban, citing concerns over free speech and censorship. Last month, creators voiced concern about a potential TikTok ban impacting their incomes.
Biden and Trump on TikTok
Despite expressing security concerns over the app, President Biden joined TikTok in February, potentially to reach young voters. Inversely, Donald Trump, who made moves to put sanctions on TikTok as president, has rallied against the ban.
What’s Next?
If President Biden signs the bill into law, TikTok will have a year to sell or be banned from operating in the U.S. However, the company plans to challenge the move in courts. The outcome is far from certain, and it remains to be seen how this will impact the platform’s users and creators.
Apps
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TikTok Ban
- Wikipedia: TikTok ban in the United States
- CNBC: U.S. Senate votes to ban TikTok unless ByteDance sells it
