On April 23, the U.S. Senate ordered ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of short video sharing app TikTok, to sell the app’s U.S. assets within about nine months, forcing it to comply. The bill banning the use of ba apps was passed with a vote of 79 to 18. The photo is of TikTok’s office. Photographed in March in California, USA (2024 Reuters/Mike Blake)
[ワシントン ２３日 ロイター] – The U.S. Senate on the 23rd ordered ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of short video sharing app TikTok, to sell the app’s U.S. assets within about nine months, failing which the app will be shut down. passed a bill banning the use of
It passed by a huge margin of 79-18. The bill will be sent to President Biden. The House passed it last week.See more
Mr. Biden has indicated that he intends to sign it on the 24th.
“For years, we have allowed the Chinese Communist Party to control one of America’s most popular apps. This is dangerously short-sighted,” said Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Rubio (R). “The new law requires[ByteDance]to sell the app. It’s a good move for the United States.”
TikTok is expected to challenge the bill on First Amendment grounds. “This is not the end of a long process, but just the beginning,” he explained in an email to his employees on Friday.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has expressed concern about calls to ban or break up TikTok. “It sets a worrying global precedent for excessive government control over social media platforms. If the United States bans foreign-owned platforms, other countries will emulate.”
In 2020, former President Trump tried to ban TikTok and the Chinese conversation app WeChat from doing business in the United States, but a court blocked his bid.
However, experts say the new bill is likely to strengthen the legal basis for ByteDance to ban the use of TikTok if it does not sell it.
It would also allow the White House to ban or force the sale of foreign apps it deems a national security threat.
If the bill becomes law, ByteDance would have to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations within 270 days. It could be extended by three months if there are signs that the deal is progressing.
Democratic Sen. Markey said it would be difficult, if not impossible, for ByteDance to sell TikTok by early 2025. He said the sale would be one of the most complex and expensive transactions in history, requiring months or even years of due diligence.
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