The US House of Representatives recently approved a comprehensive bill that encompasses various international sanctions, including specific provisions that may compel ByteDance to divest from or sell TikTok. This legislative effort targets the reduction of foreign influence by mandating a separation from the Chinese-owned company, amid longstanding concerns about data privacy and national security.
Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi emphasized that the focus of the bill is more on ByteDance’s alleged ties to the Chinese government than on TikTok itself. Despite ByteDance's denials, the sentiment in Congress leans towards action against the company under the guise of national security.
Previously, similar measures under both the Trump and Biden administrations have been proposed but lacked sufficient backing to become law, with the Senate stalling earlier attempts. However, this new bill integrates the TikTok divestiture mandate with critical foreign aid aspects concerning Ukraine, Israel, and Gaza, making it harder for senators to dismiss outright.
Significantly, this bill grants ByteDance a full year to comply with the divestment or sale, a timeline extension from the prior six-month period, which has garnered broader support across party lines. The Senate will review the bill after their Passover recess, with potential for it to reach President Biden's desk, who has already shown support for the initiative. However, it remains uncertain if this multifaceted bill will be signed in its current form.
