President Joe Biden has approved a foreign aid package containing a provision that would compel the parent company of TikTok, ByteDance based in China, to divest the app within one year or face a ban in the United States.
Under the terms of the divestment law, ByteDance must sell TikTok within nine months, with the possibility of a three-month extension granted by the president if progress is evident.
A spokesperson for TikTok, Alex Haurek, announced the company’s intention to challenge the law in court. Legal proceedings could potentially prolong the timeline if enforcement is deferred pending resolution. Additionally, there are uncertainties regarding China’s response and whether it would permit ByteDance to sell TikTok, including its prized algorithm crucial for user engagement.
“As we continue to challenge this unconstitutional ban, we will continue investing and innovating to ensure TikTok remains a space where Americans of all walks of life can safely come to share their experiences, find joy, and be inspired,” Haurek said.
“Make no mistake, this is a ban,” TikTok CEO Shou Chew said in a video posted on TikTok Wednesday, objecting to some lawmakers’ assertions that they just want to see the platform disconnected from Chinese ownership. “A ban on TikTok and a ban on you and your voice.”