Sapna Maheshwari from The New York Times delves into the secret efforts to ban TikTok in the US over national security concerns, highlighting the app's impact on American politics and the challenges of potential sale to a non-Chinese owner.
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Quick takeaways
Lawmakers are concerned about TikTok's ties to China posing national security risks.
A small bipartisan group worked secretly to craft a bill aiming to ban TikTok due to its Chinese connections.
Deep dives
US Lawmakers Pass Bill to Potentially Ban TikTok
A newly passed law potentially banning TikTok in the US raises concerns about its ties to China, with lawmakers questioning national security risks. TikTok's popularity impacting music, cooking, and celebrity culture faces scrutiny due to its ownership by the Chinese company ByteDance. Despite previous attempts to ban TikTok, this law marks a significant threat to its presence in the US.
Lawmakers' Effort to Address TikTok's China Ties
Efforts to pass the law intensified after congressional hearings with TikTok's CEO, ShowChu, raised concerns over the company's Chinese affiliations. A small bipartisan group collaborated secretly to craft the bill, aiming to address past failures in regulating TikTok's ties to China. The law's focus on TikTok's Chinese connections aims to unify lawmakers across party lines and enhance national security.
TikTok Faces Potential Sale Amid US Ban Threat
The newly signed law directs ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, to sell to a non-Chinese entity within nine months, possibly avoiding a ban. TikTok's uncertain future hinges on finding a buyer amid technical and international challenges. The law's complexity stems from the Chinese government's role in potential sale blocks, triggering legal battles and uncertainties for TikTok and its American users.
American lawmakers have tried for years to ban TikTok, concerned that the video app’s links to China pose a national security risk.
Sapna Maheshwari, a technology reporter for The Times, explains the behind-the-scenes push to rein in TikTok and discusses what a ban could mean for the app’s 170 million users in the United States.
Guest: Sapna Maheshwari, who covers TikTok, technology and emerging media companies for The New York Times.
Background reading:
A tiny group of lawmakers huddled in private about a year ago, aiming to bulletproof a bill that could ban TikTok.