U.S. Lawmakers Issue Ultimatum to ByteDance: The High-Stakes Battle for TikTok Ownership

Bipartisan Lawmakers Introduce Bill Urging ByteDance to Divest TikTok Ownership Over National Security Concerns

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has proposed legislation compelling ByteDance, the Chinese company behind TikTok, to divest its ownership of the popular short video app within six months or risk a ban in the United States. The move aims to address national security concerns associated with the app's Chinese ownership.

Proposed Bill Sets Deadline for ByteDance to Divest TikTok Amidst Threat of App Ban

Under the proposed bill, ByteDance would have 165 days to divest TikTok, which boasts over 170 million American users. Failure to comply would result in the app being deemed unlawful for distribution via major app stores like Apple and Google, as well as for web hosting services.

ByteDance Pushes Back Against Proposed Legislation, Labels It as Potential TikTok Ban

ByteDance responded, criticizing the proposed legislation as an outright ban on TikTok. The company's spokesperson argued that the bill would infringe upon the First Amendment rights of millions of Americans and hinder small businesses' ability to grow and create jobs.

Biden Administration Backs Bill, Pledges Collaboration with Congress for Further Strengthening

The White House National Security Council has expressed support for the bill, considering it "an important and welcome step." The Biden administration pledges to collaborate with Congress to strengthen the legislation further.