The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee is considering granting ByteDance, the Chinese owner of TikTok, a one-year extension to divest the popular app. Senate Commerce Committee chair Maria Cantwell supports this extension, emphasizing the need for further discussions to address key questions.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has been in talks with Cantwell regarding legislation aimed at banning TikTok, a platform used by 170 million Americans. However, reaching a consensus has proven challenging, with Cantwell cautious about rushing through legislation that would force ByteDance to divest the app.
The House of Representatives previously voted to provide ByteDance with six months to divest TikTok’s U.S. assets, sparking debates on national security and government intervention in digital spaces. The bill, known as the “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act,” must still pass the Senate and be signed into law by President Joe Biden.
In response to privacy concerns, Cantwell and Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers introduced bipartisan data privacy legislation to enhance privacy protections and limit data collection by tech companies. The American Privacy Rights Act aims to empower individuals to control their personal information, particularly in light of data usage by platforms like TikTok.
Despite security concerns raised by Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, TikTok has defended its practices, stating that a ban would violate the First Amendment rights of its American users. The company asserts its commitment to safeguarding user data and has invested significantly in data protection within the U.S.
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