Congress Passes Potential TikTok Ban in National Security Package

Congress includes TikTok ban in the national security package. Learn about the implications and what it means for users.

Congress has passed a $95 billion national security package that includes a provision that could lead to a ban on TikTok in the United States. The legislation gives TikTok’s Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance, nine months to sell the app or face a nationwide prohibition, with a possible 90-day extension. President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill into law this week.

Timeline and Implications of the Potential Ban

The earliest a ban could start is January 2025, and with a potential extension, it would be April. This means TikTok will remain a force throughout the 2024 election campaign, providing a platform for candidates to reach younger voters. Some lawmakers believe ByteDance would sooner sell TikTok than risk a U.S. ban, while others, such as former President Donald Trump, are using the potential ban as a political issue.

If signed into law, the bill would start a 270-day clock for TikTok to find a buyer. Failure to do so would lead to consequences such as prohibition from U.S. app stores and internet hosting services. TikTok has promised to take the U.S. government to court if Biden signs the bill, arguing that it would infringe on Americans’ First Amendment rights and harm small businesses that depend on the app.

Potential Buyers and Beneficiaries of a TikTok Ban

If TikTok is forced to sell, potential buyers could include large technology companies like Meta, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon, or groups of investors. However, any deal would require approval from the Chinese government, which has indicated it would not approve a forced sale of TikTok’s technology.

In the event of a ban, analysts believe that the biggest beneficiaries would be Meta and Google, as TikTok users would likely move to their competing services, such as Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. The passage of this legislation represents one of the most existential battles TikTok has ever faced, and the saga could take years to resolve in court.

Uncertain Future for TikTok in the United States

The inclusion of the TikTok ban provision in the national security package has set the stage for a potential legal battle between the U.S. government and the popular social media platform. As the timeline for a possible sale or ban unfolds, the future of TikTok in the United States remains uncertain, with far-reaching implications for users, businesses, and the tech industry as a whole.