US President Joe Biden recently signed a law aimed at banning Chinese-owned TikTok unless it's sold to a US company within a year. This move comes as part of a $95 billion foreign aid bill primarily focused on providing assistance to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan.
The legislation, which faced six months of political battles in Capitol Hill, received bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate. The Senate approved the bill with a vote of 79–18, following the House's endorsement. It imposes a requirement on ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, to sell the platform within nine months, with a potential one-year extension if deemed necessary by Biden. Failure to comply could result in a nationwide ban of TikTok in the US.
TikTok has vehemently opposed the law, labeling it unconstitutional and announcing plans to challenge it in court. The platform argues that the ban would adversely affect millions of businesses and silence millions of Americans. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew expressed disappointment with the bill and vowed to contest it, asserting confidence in prevailing with the support of facts and the Constitution.
ALSO READ: Tesla's Model 2 unveiled: affordable electric car set to revolutionize the Market
Congress defended the legislation as a necessary measure to prevent foreign adversaries from conducting espionage, surveillance, and other malign operations that could harm Americans, including servicemen and government personnel. Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell clarified that the aim was not to punish specific companies like ByteDance but to safeguard national security interests.
ALSO READ: Biden signs bipartisan bills: Aid to Ukraine & TikTok ban
Despite facing pushback from some hardline Republicans, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the bill ultimately garnered bipartisan support. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who initially opposed the foreign aid bill, cited bipartisan pressure following Iran's attempted strike on Israel as a decisive factor in ending the stalemate. Johnson defended his decision, believing it to be the right course of action that history would judge favorably.
In summary, the new legislation banning TikTok's Chinese ownership unless sold to a US company within a year is part of a larger foreign aid package aimed at supporting Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan. While facing opposition from TikTok and some lawmakers, the bill reflects bipartisan efforts to safeguard national security interests and provide assistance to key allies.
Copyright © © 2022 Copyright. All Rights Reserved with Arth Parkash