US House Votes to Ban TikTok, but Its Future Remains Uncertain

The U.S. House of Representatives recently approved legislation that would mandate TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its stake in the platform within a year, or face a national ban. This move is part of a broader foreign aid package and follows previous delays in the Senate, according to the Associated Press.

Previously, a standalone bill proposing a tighter deadline received strong bipartisan support in March, reflecting widespread concerns among both Democrats and Republicans about the national security implications of ByteDance’s ownership.

The newly passed bill, which was approved with a 360-58 vote, has now been forwarded to the Senate after adjustments were made to extend the divestment deadline to nine months, with an allowance for an additional three months if a sale is underway.

While legal hurdles could further delay these proceedings, it doesn’t appear that TikTok will be leaving the U.S. market in the immediate future.

President Joe Biden has indicated his intention to sign the bill into law. He recently reiterated his concerns about TikTok during a call with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In response to the legislative action, TikTok criticized the bill, arguing that it infringes on free speech rights and would severely impact businesses that rely on the platform.