Congress just passed a potential TikTok ban. Here’s what happens next

Introduction:
Recently, Congress passed a bill that could potentially lead to a nationwide ban on the popular video-sharing app TikTok. This development has raised concerns and questions about the future of TikTok in the United States. In this blog post, we will explore the details of the bill, its potential consequences, and what may happen next.

1. The TikTok Ban Bill:
The bill, tucked into a $95 billion foreign aid package, received overwhelming bipartisan support in both the Senate and the House of Representatives [1]. If signed into law by President Joe Biden, the bill would give TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, up to a year to sell the app. Failure to do so would result in a ban on TikTok from U.S. app stores and web hosting companies [1].

2. National Security Concerns:
Proponents of the bill argue that TikTok poses a national security risk. Lawmakers have expressed concerns about the potential for the Chinese government to spy on Americans and spread propaganda through the app [1]. While there is no public evidence of TikTok being used for spying, reports suggest that TikTok’s American operation has struggled to fully separate from its Chinese parent company [1].

3. Legal Battles and Court Challenges:
If the bill becomes law, TikTok is expected to fight it in court, as it has done in the past. Former President Donald Trump also attempted to ban TikTok, but his efforts were blocked by a federal judge [1]. TikTok has promised to take the U.S. government to court, arguing that the legislation violates Americans’ right to free speech and harms small businesses that rely on the app for exposure [1]. First Amendment experts suggest that a bill censoring TikTok users could be challenged in court [2].

4. Potential Buyers and Complications:
If ByteDance is forced to comply with the bill, selling TikTok would be a complex process. TikTok is valued at tens of billions of dollars, making it accessible primarily to ultra-wealthy investors or big technology companies [1]. However, the Chinese government will likely block the sale of TikTok’s algorithm, a crucial component of the app [1]. This could pose challenges for potential buyers who would need to rebuild the algorithm.

5. Timeline and Impact:
If President Biden signs the bill into law, TikTok would have 270 days to find a buyer. The deadline could be extended by 90 days if progress is made toward a sale [2]. The earliest a ban could start is January 2025, and with potential legal challenges, the process could be further delayed [3]. In the meantime, TikTok users can continue using the app as usual.

Conclusion:
While Congress has passed a bill that could potentially lead to a TikTok ban, the future of the app in the United States remains uncertain. Legal battles, court challenges, and the complexities of selling the app will likely shape the outcome. TikTok users and stakeholders must closely follow developments to understand the ultimate fate of the popular video-sharing platform.

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Learn more:

1. Congress passes TikTok sell-or-ban bill, but legal battles loom
2. Congress just passed a potential TikTok ban. Here’s what happens next | CNN Business
3. Congress sends Biden a bill that could ban TikTok – after the 2024 election