WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok’s China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that’s expected to face legal challenges and disrupt the lives of content creators who rely on the short-form video app for income.
The TikTok legislation was included as part of a larger $95 billion package that provides foreign aid to Ukraine and Israel and was passed 79-18. It now goes to President Joe Biden, who said in a statement immediately after passage that he will sign it Wednesday.
A decision made by House Republicans last week to attach the TikTok bill to the high-priority package helped expedite its passage in Congress and came after negotiations with the Senate, where an earlier version of the bill had stalled. That version had given TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, six months to divest its stakes in the platform. But it drew skepticism from some key lawmakers concerned it was too short of a window for a complex deal that could be worth tens of billions of dollars.
Surge in Channel crossings as one in five small boats migrants are now from Vietnam, figures show
Terry Anderson, AP reporter abducted in Lebanon and held captive for years, has died at 76
Dakota Joshua scores 2 goals to help lift Canucks past Predators 4
Australian woman appears in court charged with poisoning husband and his relatives with mushrooms
Bill Hader and Ali Wong can't stop giggling as the comedians leave loved
Kevin Bacon returns to 'Footloose' high school
Iran's president holds talks with Pakistani premier after arrival in Islamabad for a 3
Lou Groza Award winner Graham Nicholson transferring to Alabama
General Motors reports strong first
PNG leader takes offense after Biden implies an uncle was eaten by cannibals