The US Senate has approved a controversial landmark bill that could see TikTok banned in America.

It gives TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, six months to sell its stake or the app will be blocked in the United States.

The bill will now be handed over to US President, Joe Biden, who has vowed to sign it into law as soon as it reaches his desk.

If that happens, ByteDance will have to seek approval from Chinese officials to complete a forced sale, which Beijing has vowed to oppose.

The measure was passed as part of a package of four bills which also included military aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and other US partners in the Indo- Pacific.

It got widespread support from lawmakers with 79 Senators voting for it and 18 voting against it.

  • blobjim [he/him]@hexbear.net
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    6 months ago

    The bill will now be handed over to US President, Joe Biden, who has said he will sign it into law as soon as it reaches his desk.

    If that happens, ByteDance will have to seek approval from Chinese officials to complete a forced sale, which Beijing has vowed to oppose. Analysts say the process could take years.

    If any of this is true, this rocks. We’re going to see the US government censor an entire app used by millions of Americans xicko

    • happybadger [he/him]@hexbear.netOP
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      6 months ago

      Right as university campuses around the country are filling with mass demonstrations facing extreme state repression. During what will probably be the hottest year in human history. As all the utility companies face severe supply crunches and the economy is melting down. During 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝑜𝓈𝓉 𝒾𝓂𝓅𝑜𝓇𝓉𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝑒𝓁𝑒𝒸𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 𝑜𝒻 𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓁𝒾𝒻𝑒𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒𝓈.

      I could see it prompting a Certified 1968 Moment if/when things get worse this year. I don’t know how it would compare to the BLM protests of 2020 but this decision was bad.