“TikTok Ban” in the U.S. is Now Law: What You Need to Know

President Biden signed a bill into law today, April 24, 2024, to implement a nationwide TikTok ban in 270 days. Users are wondering, what comes next?

The TikTok ban is part of a foreign aid package that also supports Israel and Ukraine’s military efforts. The House approved the bill on Saturday, Congress approved it on Tuesday, and President Biden signed it today.

What Does the TikTok Ban Mean?

The TikTok ban gives Chinese parent company ByteDance 270 days to sell the social media platform. If they don’t comply, TikTok will be unavailable for U.S. downloads.  Internet hosting services will no longer support the site.

Effectually, if the company refuses to sell, users will be unable to download or interact with the app.

The deadline for the sale is January 19, 2025, although President Biden could grant the company a 90-day extension if he sees TikTok moving towards a sale.

TikTok’s Reaction

TikTok is unwilling to give up without a fight. They call the ban “unconstitutional,” and they are considering taking legal action to protect their company.

They further stated that the legislation would censor free speech rights and harm small businesses.

So, does TikTok have a case? Nadine Farid Johnson, policy director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, said, “Longstanding Supreme Court precedent protects Americans’ First Amendment right to access information, ideas, and media from abroad. By banning TikTok, the bill would infringe on this right with no real payoff. China and other foreign adversaries could still purchase American’s sensitive data from data brokers on the open market.”

Attorney Ugo Lord, an attorney on TikTok with over 6 million followers, received over 40,000 likes on his TikTok statement that said, “This is just the beginning. Now that the bill is law, I guarantee you that TikTok will immediately file a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of this ‘ban.'”

A court case could also temporarily block the bill, allowing TikTok to remain operational under Byte Dance for several years. However, if the court refuses to grant a temporary injunction, the platform would be forced to comply with the bill. Any efforts towards legal activity could cause a delay in action that could run out of time.

What Does the TikTok Ban Have to Do with Foreign Policy?

The TikTok ban was tied to a foreign policy bill that aids warring countries Israel and Ukraine. Although the ban does not seem to impact foreign policy as the ongoing wars, it was included in the bill to fast-track it to Congress. A non-approval would deny funding to those countries, making it difficult to vote down.

What if TikTok Gets Sold to Another Company?

Some users may wonder, what’s the big deal if TikTok gets sold to another company? I can still use it, right?

Well, the issue is TikTok’s algorithm. The Chinese government feels transferring some advanced technology may impact the country’s national interest. That may include the TikTok algorithm.

Failure to transfer the algorithm will affect the platform’s recommendation engine, which is part of what makes it so popular. Without the algorithm, the app is basically useless.

Users React

Users are not too happy with Biden’s decision. Lawmakers’ offices were inundated with nonstop phone calls from “shrieking teens” demanding that they lift the TikTok ban. With this bill now becoming law, it looks like the matter may be beyond the public’s reach.