House Speaker Mike Johnson is spearheading a renewed effort to diminish Chinese influence over TikTok, with a significant modification potentially expediting the bill’s journey to President Biden’s desk.
The revised legislation now grants ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, a year to divest its U.S. operations or face a ban, an extension from the initial six-month ultimatum. Johnson officially unveiled the updated bill, which could undergo a House vote as early as this weekend.
The adjustment has already garnered support in the Senate, where skepticism loomed previously. Notably, Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell, a key holdout, now endorses the bill’s extended timeline, citing the necessity for potential buyers to secure deals.
Cantwell aligns with influential senators like Mark Warner and Marco Rubio, who have advocated for swift action on TikTok.
Yet, final approval remains uncertain amidst a complex legislative agenda, including contentious issues like foreign aid and asset seizures. This maneuver presents a strategic gamble for Johnson, potentially inviting challenges to his leadership.
Nonetheless, progress on the TikTok front indicates imminent resolution, though implications for the app’s 170 million American users remain contentious. Critics decry TikTok’s data collection practices and its purported ties to the Chinese government, contentions ByteDance refutes.
Amidst the legislative maneuvering, geopolitical tensions underscore the stakes, with even the Chinese government reportedly intervening to thwart the bill’s momentum.
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