The U.S. Senate has passed a bill that gives ByteDance, the Chinese owner of TikTok, nine months to divest the U.S. assets of the popular short-video app. If ByteDance fails to comply, TikTok could face a nationwide ban. President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill into law on Wednesday, initiating a countdown for ByteDance to sell TikTok.
Following the signing of the bill, TikTok is likely to take legal action to challenge the law. The app’s lawyers are expected to request a preliminary injunction to prevent enforcement of the bill, allowing TikTok to contest its constitutionality in court. The legal battle could potentially delay the forced sale process and give TikTok more time to operate in the U.S. without disruption.
Despite the legal challenges ahead, TikTok’s app experience is not expected to change for its 170 million users in the U.S. until the completion of the divestment period by early 2025. Meanwhile, experts suggest that TikTok’s recommendation algorithm may fall under a list of technologies requiring Chinese government approval for export, raising concerns about potential implications for the app’s operations.
