ByteDance, TikTok’s owner, may be forced to sell the app within six months or face a U.S. ban.
The social media platform TikTok is once again under scrutiny from U.S. Senators, who are pushing for a potential ban in America. A proposed bipartisan legislation aims to require ByteDance, the app’s parent company, to sell it off within six months. Failure to do so could result in the loss of TikTok’s 150 million American users.
The proposed legislation, expected to be voted on March 7, joins together more than a dozen lawmakers and aims to address national security concerns surrounding TikTok’s ownership. If passed, ByteDance would have 165 days to divest the app and failure to comply would make it illegal for Apple and Google app stores to offer TikTok. The same would apply for web hosting services for ByteDance-controlled apps. These concerns arise from TikTok being owned by the Chinese multinational, subjecting it to China’s controversial cybersecurity laws which could potentially allow access to U.S. user data by the Chinese Communist Party upon request.
According to the United States government, Republican Representative Mike Gallagher is one of several lawmakers who have put forth a new proposal. In an interview with Reuters, he stated the following message for TikTok: either sever ties with the Chinese Communist Party or face potential loss of access to American users. He also emphasized that it would be inappropriate for a prominent media platform in the U.S. to be controlled by our main adversary.
The reason for our concern is that a U.S. ban on TikTok would greatly affect advertisers, particularly those who are targeting Gen Z. This specific demographic prefers TikTok over other platforms, such as Google, making it a vital avenue for advertisers looking to connect with this audience.
According to TikTok, the platform has continuously maintained its independence from its owners and taken steps to safeguard American user data from foreign intrusion. In a statement released on X last year, the company emphasized its dedication to protecting over 150 million Americans who use TikTok and ensuring the safety of teenagers in particular. Additionally, they assured that measures would be in place to prevent unauthorized foreign access to protected U.S. user data and reiterated their commitment to remaining a platform for free expression, free from government manipulation. To remain accountable for these commitments, they also promised transparency and granting access to third-party independent monitors.
