International: President Biden signs a law aimed at banning TikTok in the United States
The social media landscape is undergoing a major shake-up as President Joe Biden has officially signed into law a bill aimed at forcing the Chinese parent company of TikTok, ByteDance, to sell the well-known social media platform. This decision, which could potentially disrupt the online habits of millions of Americans, highlights growing concerns about national security and data privacy.
Under the terms of the bill, ByteDance is required to divest TikTok within a nine-month period. An extension of 90 days is possible if the President invokes this option, extending the total deadline to one year. In the absence of a sale within this timeframe, TikTok could face a complete ban on American soil.
TikTok’s reaction to this measure has been strong. In a statement released shortly after President Biden’s signing, the company firmly characterized the law as unconstitutional and expressed its intention to challenge it in court. « This ban would devastate seven million businesses and silence 170 million Americans, » TikTok declared, highlighting the potential economic and social impacts of such a ban.
Shou Zi Chew, TikTok’s CEO, also expressed disappointment with this legislation. In his own statement, he described this period as a « disappointing moment » for the company but reaffirmed TikTok’s commitment to challenging the law legally.
This decision comes amid growing concerns about data security and potential ties between Chinese technology companies and the Beijing government. US authorities have long expressed concerns about the possibility of TikTok being compelled to share user data with the Chinese government, although the company has vigorously denied such allegations.
