The Biden campaign has confirmed that it will continue to use TikTok, despite President Biden signing a bill into law that would require the platform’s China-based parent company, ByteDance, to sell TikTok or face a ban in the United States. The legislation, part of a larger foreign aid package, gives ByteDance nine months to divest its stake in TikTok, with a possible three-month extension if a sale is in progress. The bill also prohibits ByteDance from controlling the algorithm that shows users videos based on their interests. Lawmakers have expressed concerns over Chinese threats and the potential influence of Chinese officials on TikTok.
The passage of the legislation follows bipartisan fears in Congress about Chinese threats, including the ownership of TikTok. Lawmakers and administration officials have long been concerned that Chinese officials could access U.S. user data and influence Americans using the platform. China has opposed the forced sale of TikTok and has signaled opposition to the latest legislation, while TikTok itself has denied being a security threat. The platform has indicated that it will challenge the law in court, calling it unconstitutional and stating that it has invested in keeping U.S. data safe and free from outside influence and manipulation.
The House Republicans’ decision to attach the TikTok bill to the foreign aid package helped expedite its passage after an earlier version had stalled in the Senate. The Senate version of the bill would have given ByteDance six months to sell TikTok, which some lawmakers felt was too short of a window for a complex deal potentially worth billions of dollars. TikTok has previously had success with court challenges but has never attempted to prevent federal legislation from going into effect. The Biden-Harris campaign has affirmed that it will continue to use TikTok despite the new law, showcasing the platform’s popularity among political campaigns and its impact on reaching voters.
TikTok has criticized the legislation as unconstitutional and stated that it will challenge it in court. The company argues that the ban would harm millions of businesses and silence millions of Americans who use TikTok as a platform to share experiences, find joy, and be inspired. TikTok has emphasized its commitment to investing in innovation to ensure the platform remains a safe space for users of all backgrounds. The platform has been successful in court challenges in the past but faces a new legal battle to prevent the law from going into effect. The controversy surrounding TikTok highlights ongoing concerns about data security and influence on social media platforms.
The Biden administration’s decision to continue using TikTok despite the new legislation underscores the platform’s importance in reaching voters and engaging with users. The bipartisan fears in Congress around Chinese threats, including through TikTok, reflect broader concerns about data security and foreign influence on social media platforms. TikTok’s response to the legislation, including plans to challenge it in court, demonstrates the platform’s commitment to protecting user data and maintaining its presence in the U.S. market. The outcome of the legal battle over the TikTok legislation will have implications for the future of data security and user privacy on social media platforms.
