Senate Passes TikTok Ban Bill Linked to Ukraine Aid Package
House Approval Pending, Biden's Signature Expected
Legislation Requires Divestment Within a Year
WASHINGTON, DC - The Senate voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to approve legislation that would ban the popular video-sharing app TikTok from operating in the United States. The bill, S1143, passed with a vote of 98-2. It now heads to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
The Senate's approval of the TikTok ban bill was tied to a $95 billion package of foreign aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The bill's supporters argued that it was necessary to protect national security, as TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, is a Chinese company that has been accused of sharing user data with the Chinese government.
The bill requires ByteDance to divest TikTok within a year of its enactment. If ByteDance fails to comply, the president can push back the deadline by an additional 90 days. Without a sale, TikTok will be banned in the United States.
President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill into law. The White House has already expressed support for the TikTok ban, saying that it is necessary to protect national security.
The vote in the Senate was largely along party lines, with all but one Republican voting in favor of the bill. Democrats were more divided, with 12 voting against it.
The approval of the TikTok ban bill is a significant development in the ongoing debate over the future of social media in the United States. It is the first time that the federal government has taken action to ban a major social media app.
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