TikTok is getting dangerously close to a potential ban in the United States. The Senate has just voted for the bill requiring the sale of the ByteDance application.
The United States appears to be reaching the end of a long legal case. Because the world’s leading power has for several years wanted to put an end to what it considers to be China’s intrusion into the lives of its fellow citizens through the distribution of the very popular TikTok application. And to do this, the country’s authorities have launched a legal process which will force ByteDance to sell its application or, in the event that this obligation is not respected, to simply be banned on American soil. And a decisive step has just been taken.
The Senate votes in turn
The House of Representatives had already said yes to the law that could ban TikTok. A vote which still had to be validated by the United States Senate. This has just been done, and by an overwhelming majority of 79 for and 18 against. All that remains is for the President of the United States to ratify the law. A formality, Joe Biden having already previously announced that he would initial the law if Congress adopted it.
The success of this vote is due, while the Senate was initially rather divided on the advisability of a ban, to the fact that the TikTok case was integrated within the legislative pack bringing together the latest aid to date intended for allied nations (mainly Ukraine and Israel). Once ratified, this law will give ByteDance nine months to sell TikTok, a period which could be extended by three months by Joe Biden.
TikTok prepares to challenge the decision in court
The representatives of the Senate, who know they have to face a large and young audience skeptical about the ban on TikTok, wanted to explain that it was not a question here of prohibiting a means for citizens to express themselves, “ or worse, a concession to American social media networks “, as Democratic Senator Mark Warner points out.
“ In the context of social media used by nearly half of Americans, it is not difficult to imagine how a platform that so facilitates commerce, political discourse, and social debate could be covertly manipulated to serve the purposes of an authoritarian regime, which has a long track record of censorship, transnational repression and the promotion of disinformation » indicated the same source.
Nearly 170 million Americans use TikTok to date. The application had already tried in the past to calm the fears of the authorities with a project to host citizens’ data on United States soil. Which wasn’t enough. TikTok also indicated that it would take legal action against the law from the moment it is enacted.
Download
- Easy interactions
- Engaging social network
- Very entertaining
TikTok is a social media app primarily focused on creating and sharing short videos. TikTok has quickly become popular with a wide audience, especially among young people. The app allows users to create videos up to 3 minutes long, often featuring music, lip-syncing, dancing, comedy skits, and other forms of expressive performances.
TikTok is a social media app primarily focused on creating and sharing short videos. TikTok has quickly become popular with a wide audience, especially among young people. The app allows users to create videos up to 3 minutes long, often featuring music, lip-syncing, dancing, comedy skits, and other forms of expressive performances.
Source : The Verge
Tech journalist, specializing in the impact of high technologies on international relations. I am passionate about all the new developments in the field (Blockchain, AI, quantum...), energy issues, and astronomy. Often one foot in Asia, and always ready to put on the gloves.
Read other articles
11