President Joe Biden Signs Bill to Ban TikTok in the US: Unless This One Condition is Met

US President Joe Biden took a major step in the government's war with social media giant TikTok. President Biden enacted a law that could see the popular Chinese-owned app TikTok banned in the United States unless it finds a US buyer within a specified timeframe.

This move comes as part of a broader $95 billion aid package aimed at supporting allies such as Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, alongside providing humanitarian assistance to nations including Gaza, Sudan, and Haiti. The legislation, which also encompasses the controversial TikTok measure, marks the end of a prolonged six-month political stalemate on Capitol Hill.

President Joe Biden Moves to Ban TikTok in the US

The journey of the bill to the President's desk was not without its hurdles. "The path to my desk was difficult. It should have been easier, and it should've gotten there sooner...But in the end, we did what America always does, we rose to the moment," President Biden stated, highlighting the challenges faced during the process.

This legislation has garnered bipartisan support, with the Senate approving the plan in a 79-18 vote, followed by the House's endorsement. The new law mandates that ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, must divest its ownership in TikTok to a US entity within nine months, with a possibility of a one-year extension granted by President Biden.

Failure to comply with this directive will result in a ban of the platform across the United States. In response to the legislation, TikTok has expressed its intention to challenge the ban in court.

TikTok's Reply to the Bill

A statement released on X (formerly Twitter) articulated the company's stance, "This unconstitutional law is a TikTok ban, and we will challenge it in court...This ban would devastate seven million businesses and silence 170 million Americans."

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew also voiced his disappointment but assured users that the company plans to fight the ban, banking on the Constitution and facts to prevail in their favor. Defending the bill, Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell explained, "Congress is not acting to punish ByteDance, TikTok, or any other individual company.

Bipartisan Support in Congress

Congress is acting to prevent foreign adversaries from conducting espionage, surveillance, malign operations, harming vulnerable Americans, our servicemen and women, and our U.S. government personnel." This sentiment reflects the broader national security concerns that have underpinned the legislative push against TikTok.

The bill's passage faced opposition from within the ranks, notably from hardline Republicans such as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. However, bipartisan pressure, especially following Iran's attempted strike on Israel in April, facilitated a resolution to the stalemate. House Speaker Mike Johnson, reflecting on the contentious journey, stated, "I know that history is going to judge this well...It was the right thing to do."

Why Ban TikTok in the US?

Lawmakers in the US have long been plotting to dismantle TikTok's current memorandum of operation as millions of citizens have used the platform to voice their opinion on the ongoing genocide in Gaza. TikTok is seen as an advisory to the US government, who have continually expressed their unwavering support to Israel in their ongoing massacre of the Palestinians people in Gaza.

As this new law takes effect, the future of TikTok in the US hangs in balance, with the company gearing up for a legal challenge. The developments mark a critical moment in the ongoing debates over digital sovereignty, censorship, freedom of speech, and the global influence of social media platforms in changing public opinion.