US TikTok ban could begin next year as Biden signs law, but legal battle looms

[Daniel Sims]

What just happened? After years of threats, a bill that could see TikTok banned from the US is now law. However, the ban would trigger no earlier than the beginning of next year, and a court battle could lengthen or even halt the process as a social network used by nearly half of Americans hangs in the balance.

US President Joe Biden has signed a bill into law that forces TikTok owner ByteDance to either sell the immensely popular social network or remove the app from Apple and Google app stores. The Beijing parent company has 270 days to comply, meaning the ban could enter effect next January at the earliest, with a possible three-month extension if a sale is in progress.

TikTok CEO Shou Chew responded by vowing to mount a legal challenge against the legislation, which could delay the issue further. In the meantime, he asked TikTok users to post testimonials explaining how important the platform is to them.

Our CEO Shou Chew's response to the TikTok ban: pic.twitter.com/l0RAPJMobK

– TikTok Policy (@TikTokPolicy) April 24, 2024

Around 170 million Americans – almost half the country's population – report having used TikTok, and it's the fastest-growing social media network in the US. Many users protesting the ban cited how integral it has become to their businesses and livelihoods.

A testament to the platform's reach is the Biden re-election campaign's intention to continue using TikTok as the president tries to force its sale or ban, setting the deadline after the November election. A campaign spokesperson said that the Biden campaign still wants to reach voters wherever they are.

However, US officials worry that TikTok harvests user data and shares it with ByteDance in China, accusing the companies of being under Chinese Communist Party control. Although TikTok transferred its US data to servers in Texas and claims that the employees responsible for it don't answer to ByteDance, anonymous employees recently told Fortune that the separation between the two companies is largely superficial.

Still, some argue that TikTok's data harvesting practices are no worse than those of Instagram or Twitter and that the law sets a double standard for the Chinese-owned platform. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak called the ban "hypocrisy," comparing its practices with those of Facebook and Google.

Chew claimed that the constitution is on TikTok's side, likely referring to the First Amendment grounds upon which the company could base its defense. The strategy already has precedent, as a Montana judge blocked a statewide ban on the social network late last year, saying that it violated the Constitution in multiple ways, including the right to free speech.

Another concern is whether a ban from US app stores could truly keep Americans away from TikTok. US users could theoretically sideload the Android version of the app, and something similar could potentially occur on iOS if regulators force Apple to open its walled garden as the European Union has. It's also unclear how the law could stop Americans from accessing TikTok through web browsers and VPNs.

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US TikTok ban could begin next year as Biden signs law, but legal battle looms

 

[Neatfeatguy]

The only times I've used TikTok is when my younger brother sends me links to watch some stupidass video. Half the time I don't even bother checking the link. What a waste of server space "social" media is.

If it goes bye-bye, it won't hurt my feelings.

 

[user478318]

Hope they ban Facebook too

 

[amstech]

Everything META is degenerate liberal garbage.

 

[RandomWAN]

Of all the vile crap they're pushing through with that "security" package, banning TikTok is the least concerning. I don't agree with it, but there's far more immediately detrimental things being passed.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Of all the vile crap they're pushing through with that "security" package, banning TikTok is the least concerning. I don't agree with it, but there's far more immediately detrimental things being passed.

-Like what?

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Banned because the US NSA couldn't compete with China on social media. If Tik Tok had any sense, they'd ban all the Biden accounts they want to use for re-election as a response.

-Like what?

Well, the precedence that if the US doesnt like the way you operate your business, they can now force you to shut down or sell is pretty damning precedence. That's the kind of thing China does, not the US.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Well, the precedence that if the US doesnt like the way you operate your business, they can now force you to shut down or sell is pretty damning precedence. That's the kind of thing China does, not the US.

-He said the TikTok ban was the *least* concerning thing in the bill and far more detrimental things. So I asked "like what" as in what else besides the ban is in there that is so bad?

 

[RandomWAN]

-Like what?

Sending money and resources to foreign countries, FISA warrantless wiretapping, expanding the power the office of the President has to deploy military resources without congressional approval to name a few.

 

[zootsuit7]

The US Government doesn't have a hotline to TikTok staff like they do to Google/Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. They can't pressure the Chinese to censor or cancel an American like so many were on Facebook since 2020. They can't steer their narrative easily without control over TikTok users. Imagine the irony. We are in a situation where the only free speech is on a communist government run website. Which our formerly Constitutionally regulated government is trying to shut down. Our government is really, really going out of their way to shut us all up. Why do you think that would be?

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Sending money and resources to foreign countries, FISA warrantless wiretapping, expanding the power the office of the President has to deploy military resources without congressional approval to name a few.

-Dont really have an issue with money to Ukraine and Taiwan, have an issue with money to Israel.

Fair point on FISA, can't find much info on expansion of war powers for POTUS.

 

[HofyPC]

Joe is just mad that China is stealing information for free. In other words, the big guy isn't getting his 10%!

 

[RandomWAN]

-Dont really have an issue with money to Ukraine and Taiwan, have an issue with money to Israel.

Fair point on FISA, can't find much info on expansion of war powers for POTUS.

If you have an issue with money to one, then you should have an issue with money to any. They're foreign countries and not our problem. We have enough serious issues on the home front that needs solving and no resources should be sent outside our borders until those are fixed.

Regarding the POTUS, it wasn't war powers, it was increased draw down authority: https://www.state.gov/use-of-presidential-drawdown-authority-for-military-assistance-for-ukraine/

I haven't been able to find the exact language of what was added yet, but it is likely another case of 'you'll have to approve the bill to see what's in the bill'. It's still giving the office more authority than it should have to mobilize military aid without oversight approval.

If people are so gung-ho about assisting these foreign countries, then they need to shuttle themselves over to these countries and join in the fight directly instead of trying to drag the rest of us into it in any fashion.