On April 24, 2024, U.S. President Joe Biden signed a bill into law that could potentially result in a TikTok ban unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sells its ownership within a year[1][4]. The legislation, which was fast-tracked through Congress, provides ByteDance with a 270-day window to part ways with TikTok or face severe restrictions, including removal from U.S. app stores and prohibition from using American internet hosting services[1][4]. If ByteDance fails to sell, the platform’s operations in the U.S. would be significantly impacted[1][4].
The bill’s signing comes after concerns over national security, data privacy, and potential Chinese government influence on the platform[1][4]. TikTok CEO Shou Chew has reassured users that the app isn’t going anywhere and that the company will challenge the decision in court[1][4]. The legislation has sparked discussions among TikTok creators, who are concerned about the potential impact on the user base and small businesses that rely on the platform for advertising, particularly Black and minority-owned businesses[1].
The bill is part of a larger package that includes financial assistance to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan[3]. If ByteDance does not comply with the divestiture order within the initial nine-month period, the president can grant an additional three-month extension[4]. ByteDance has announced its intention to challenge the legislation in court, arguing that it is unconstitutional and would devastate seven million businesses and silence 170 million Americans[3]. Despite the potential ban, Biden’s campaign plans to continue using TikTok to engage voters for at least the next year, as the deadline for ByteDance to comply with the legislation extends through the November election.