TikTok Under Threat: US Senate Passes Bill to Expel Chinese Social Media Giant or Sell It

A bill has been passed by the United States Senate that could lead to the expulsion of TikTok from the country unless its Chinese owner, ByteDance, sells it. This decision comes amidst concerns about the platform’s security of user data and its ties to the Beijing government.

Lawmakers from both major parties in the US have pushed for this bill, fearing that the Chinese government could access data on the 170 million TikTok users in the US. TikTok has denied providing foreign user data to the Chinese government. The bill also includes foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan and paves the way for the forced sale of TikTok.

If the ban is implemented, access to TikTok for Americans could be revoked, with the ban potentially taking effect in 2025. TikTok has filed a lawsuit to block the forced sale, which could lead to a long legal process. The legislation gives ByteDance 9 months to sell TikTok to a US buyer, with a possible grace period of three months.

The algorithm of TikTok is what makes it unique and popular among users. The platform is already banned in countries like India, Iran, Nepal, Afghanistan, and Somalia due to its extensive data gathering practices. However, despite attempts by TikTok to engage with its users and push back against this legislation, it remains uncertain if it will be able to stay in operation in the US.

The repercussions of this decision could extend beyond just America and inspire similar measures by other countries around the world who are concerned about protecting their citizens’ privacy from foreign governments or companies that may have ties with them.