By MARY CLARE JALONICK and HALELUYA HADERO (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — A bill that could make TikTok illegal in the U.S. if its Chinese owner doesn't sell its share got a big boost on Wednesday when House Republican leaders added it to a group of bills that would send help to Ukraine and Israel. If Congress acts fast, this bill could become a law next week.
The TikTok law, which was approved by the House in March and has broad support in both parts of Congress, was included in the House foreign policy package after talks with the Senate about how long the Chinese firm ByteDance Ltd. would have to sell the app. to sell its share in order for the app to keep running in the United States. President Joe Biden has said he would approve the TikTok law if it gets to him.
The bill was added to the national security package after it got an important approval from Senate Commerce Committee Chairwoman Maria Cantwell, who said she had successfully extended the time from six months to a year to give the company enough time to find a buyer. While the original law had a six-month limit for TikTok to be sold, the new House bill would give nine months and a possible three-month extension if a sale was in progress.
“Extending the divestment period is necessary to ensure there is enough time for a new buyer to get a deal done,” said Cantwell, who had previously expressed doubts about the bill. ”I support this updated legislation.”
If Congress approves the TikTok law, it would be a rare moment when both parties come together against one company – something lawmakers are usually hesitant to do. But the popular social media app has sparked widespread anger in Congress, where there is mutual worry about Chinese threats to the United States and where few members use the platform themselves.
Opponents say they think the ban would be against the constitution, and there would probably be legal challenges if it becomes a law. The company, content creators who earn money on the app and many of the app’s 170 million U.S. users, especially young people, have strongly opposed the ban. Some lawmakers have even received calls using strong language from users who were encouraged by the app to call their representatives in Congress. calls with strong language from users who were encouraged by the app to call their representatives in Congress.
So far, the U.S. government has not given evidence that proves TikTok shared U.S. user data with the Chinese government, or that the Chinese authorities have interfered with the company’s popular algorithm, which affects what Americans see. has not provided evidence that shows TikTok shared U.S. user data with the Chinese government, or that Chinese authorities have interfered with the company’s popular algorithm, which affects what Americans see.
Since mid-March, the company has spent $5 million on TV ads opposing the law, according to AdImpact, an advertising tracking firm. The ads have included a range of content creators, including a nun, praising the good effects of the platform on their lives and arguing that a ban would violate the First Amendment.
TikTok has also spent money on Facebook and Instagram ads that, among other things, talk about investments in data safety. Additionally, the company has carried out a lobbying effort in Washington that involved bringing in content creators who depend on the platform for income.
Alex Haurek, a company spokesperson, stated on Thursday that it was unfortunate that the House of Representatives is using important foreign and humanitarian assistance to push through a bill that would violate the free speech rights of 170 million Americans, harm 7 million businesses, and close down a platform that contributes $24 billion to the U.S. economy each year.
Dan Ives, a tech analyst at Wedbush Securities, mentioned that such a sale would be very complex to carry out, even with an extended timeline.
The platform would come with a big price tag that only the largest tech companies could afford, something that’s likely to raise antitrust concerns. Additionally, there’s the issue of TikTok’s algorithm, the app’s secret sauce that recommends videos to users. The bill prohibits ByteDance from controlling TikTok’s algorithm, and a potential sale could face opposition from China, which has been clamping down on exports of recommendation algorithms by Chinese tech companies.
According to Ives, purchasing TikTok without the algorithm would be similar to purchasing a Ferrari without the engine.
Some investors, including former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary, have already expressed interest in acquiring TikTok’s U.S. business. If a sale isn’t approved and the platform is banned, Ives said it would be a favorable situation for Snapchat, Meta, and YouTube, which have been dealing with tough competition from TikTok in recent years.
The passing of the bill would be the most significant action Congress has taken in decades to regulate the tech industry. For years, Congress has not taken action on bills aimed at protecting users’ privacy, making companies more accountable for their content, and imposing some restrictions around artificial intelligence, among other things.
Nevertheless, it is a narrow shot at one company when many lawmakers would prefer to see broader changes. A group of senators has been advocating for a Senate bill to safeguard kids online, and Cantwell recently reached an agreement with the Republican chairwoman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Washington Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, on legislation to protect Americans’ data privacy.
While most lawmakers support the TikTok bill, some have expressed concerns about the dangerous precedent it could set.
Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul expressed his opposition to the House TikTok ban, highlighting that it is a measure that stifles free expression, violates constitutional rights, and disrupts the economic pursuits of millions of Americans.
Others are advocating for the app’s devoted users.
Florida Rep. Maxwell Frost, who is significantly younger than most of his colleagues at 27, voiced his opposition to the TikTok bill before the House vote, raising first amendment concerns and stating that it won’t address the serious issues with data privacy.
Hadero reported from New York.
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By MARY CLARE JALONICK and HALELUYA HADERO (Associated Press) WASHINGTON (AP) — Legislation that might stop TikTok from operating in the U.S. if its Chinese owner does not sell its part got a big push late Wednesday when House Republican leaders added it in a group of laws that would provide assistance to Ukraine and Israel. The bill […]
