TikTok divest-or-ban legislation could suddenly be fast-tracked in the Senate

Cath Virginia / The Verge | Photo by Brendan Hoffman, Getty Images

A measure that could oust TikTok from the US looked similar it could linger for months successful the Senate, adjacent aft the House overwhelmingly voted to o.k. it. But a determination by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) could alteration that.

An updated mentation of the bill, which would enforce a prohibition of TikTok unless it divests from its China-based genitor company, ByteDance, appears successful a measure astir sanctions connected Russia and Iran. A abstracted measure that would prohibit information brokers from transferring US users’ accusation to overseas adversaries is besides included. It’s portion of a bundle connected overseas assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Gaza. By combining the legislation, it could marque the TikTok measure harder for the Senate to ignore.

The overseas assistance measure inactive needs to beryllium approved by the afloat House, but a ballot is expected Saturday. After that, it would spell to the Senate. President Joe Biden has already said he’d motion the measurement into instrumentality if passed by some chambers.

Changes to the mentation of the TikTok measure that passed done the House are already winning the enactment of astatine slightest 1 cardinal senator. The measure extends the timeline for a forced merchantability of TikTok from six months to 9 and gives the president the discretion to widen that timeline different 90 days if there’s advancement toward a deal.

Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-WA) said successful a connection connected Wednesday nighttime that she’s “very blessed that Speaker Johnson and House leaders incorporated my proposal to widen the Byte Dance divestment play from six months to a year. As I’ve said, extending the divestment play is indispensable to guarantee determination is capable clip for a caller purchaser to get a woody done. I enactment this updated legislation.” Cantwell had previously been noncommittal astir the legislation, saying astatine the clip of its transition successful the House that she wanted to find “a way guardant that is law and protects civilian liberties.” If moved connected its own, the measure would request to walk done Cantwell’s committee earlier reaching the Senate floor.

The thrust for TikTok to divest from its Chinese proprietor stems from the fearfulness of US lawmakers and quality officials that China could entree idiosyncratic accusation done the app oregon exert power implicit Americans who walk hours connected it each day. Part of the interest comes from a Chinese instrumentality that could compel companies based determination to manus implicit interior accusation for the intent of nationalist security. But TikTok says it doesn’t store US idiosyncratic accusation successful China.

The bill’s opponents interest it volition person a chilling effect connected US users’ code and that it won’t clasp up to ineligible challenges. Some accidental that a information privateness bill would amended hole immoderate of the controversies astir TikTok.

“It is unfortunate that the House of Representatives is utilizing the screen of important overseas and humanitarian assistance to erstwhile again jam done a prohibition measure that would trample the escaped code rights of 170 cardinal Americans, devastate 7 cardinal businesses, and shutter a level that contributes $24 cardinal to the U.S. economy, annually,“ TikTok spokesperson Michael Hughes said successful a statement.