What Happens Next With TikTok?
The New York Times
Even though legislation is moving forward, our video apps won’t disappear any time soon.
What happens next with TikTok?
The video social media app isn’t disappearing from smartphones any time soon. The legislative process is still in its early stages after the House’s passage of a bill mandating a sale by the app’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, or be banned. Next, the bill is heading to a skeptical Senate, after which President Biden would need to sign it into law. Even after that, it might not happen.
Here’s what to expect.
The bill needs to be approved by the Senate, which could also make changes to the text of the legislation.
Several senators have already raised concerns about the legislation as it is currently written. For example, because the bill’s text explicitly names TikTok and ByteDance, some are worried it could violate a part of the Constitution that bars Congress from targeting specific entities with legislation. (The bill’s supporters say this will not be an issue.)
Several prominent senators who could help decide whether the legislation moves forward have been noncommittal. Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader, hasn’t said if he will bring it up for a vote. His spokesman did not respond to a question about his plans.
