US President Joe Biden has signed legislation mandating that the popular social media app TikTok sever its ties with its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or face a potential nationwide ban. This bill stipulates a 270-day deadline for compliance, which could see TikTok banned from US app stores by early 2025.
The decision came after the US Senate passed the bill with a significant majority, reflecting bipartisan support for the measure. The bill was part of a larger legislative package that included substantial foreign aid commitments.
Biden’s signature on the bill came amidst statements from TikTok criticizing the legislation as unconstitutional and indicating plans to challenge it in court. Despite the controversy surrounding the decision, the President focused his remarks on the foreign aid aspects of the package during the signing.
The legislation gives TikTok approximately nine months to disassociate from ByteDance and establish itself as an independent entity in the US to avoid the ban. This period is intended to provide ByteDance with a more generous timeframe for divestment compared to previous proposals.
The bill, known as the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, had encountered delays in the Senate but was eventually expedited due to its incorporation into the broader aid package. This package allocates $95 billion to various international aid efforts, emphasizing the urgency of support for global stability and humanitarian needs.
