The divest-or-ban invoice is now legislation, beginning the clock for ByteDance to make its transfer. The corporate has an preliminary 9 months to type out a deal, although the president may prolong that one other three months if he sees progress.
Whereas only recently the laws appeared like it might stall out within the Senate after being handed as a standalone invoice within the Home, political maneuvering helped usher it by to Biden’s desk. The Home packaged the TikTok invoice — which upped the timeline for divestment from the six months allowed within the earlier model — with international support to US allies, which successfully compelled the Senate to contemplate the measures collectively. The longer divestment interval additionally appeared to get some lawmakers who have been on the fence on board.
TikTok spokesperson Alex Haurek mentioned in an announcement that the corporate plans to problem the legislation within the courts, which may in the end prolong the timeline ought to the courts delay enforcement pending a decision. There additionally stays the query of how China will reply and whether or not it might let ByteDance promote TikTok and, most significantly, its coveted algorithm that retains customers coming again to the app.
“As we proceed to problem this unconstitutional ban, we are going to proceed investing and innovating to make sure TikTok stays an area the place Individuals of all walks of life can safely come to share their experiences, discover pleasure, and be impressed,” Haurek mentioned.
“Make no mistake, it is a ban,” TikTok CEO Shou Chew mentioned in a video posted on TikTok Wednesday, objecting to some lawmakers’ assertions that they simply need to see the platform disconnected from Chinese language possession. “A ban on TikTok and a ban on you and your voice.”
Replace, April twenty fourth: The article has been up to date with an official assertion from a TikTok spokesperson and its CEO.