The Chamber advanced its aid package. What does this mean for the future of TikTok?

Last month, the House passed legislation that would force ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to sell the popular app or be banned in the US.

The project was then transferred to the Senate, where it has an uncertain future.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) made waves when he merged a tweaked measure with the $95 billion foreign aid package that easily passed the lower chamber on Saturday.

The measure related to TikTok, linked to the foreign aid package, has different language than the previous one, which was approved in the Chamber in March.

The new measure would extend ByteDance’s timeline for selling TikTok, increasing it from six months to a year, an adjustment that forced Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) to support the bill in upper chamber. The House approved the foreign aid as a four-point bill, but it is being handed over to the Senate as a measure.

What does the future of TikTok look like now?

Why Lawmakers Want to Ban TikTok

TikTok has faced backlash on Capitol Hill over its ties to China. Supporters of the measure argued that banning TikTok would prevent the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from accessing American users’ data that could be used for espionage.

TikTok reacted by saying that it was not asked to provide the data to the CPP.

TikTok has also come under scrutiny for its algorithm that recommends sensitive videos, and critics have accused it of being a threat to national security, especially ahead of the upcoming presidential election.

What happens next?

The measure to ban TikTok now heads to the Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer he said the lower house will consider the foreign aid bill on Tuesday.

President Biden has expressed his support for the overall measure, which includes the possibility of banning the app, and said he would sign a bill that could ban TikTok if it reaches his desk.

How the ban would work

The legislation would prohibit the Google Play Store or App Store from updating or distributing TikTok.

However, in the past, people have found ways to get around similar bans, including by changing locations or using VPNs, USAToday notes.

When would the ban come into effect?

The ban would come into effect if ByteDance decided not to divest within the stipulated deadline.

The extended period for selling TikTok went from 180 days to 270 days with recent legislation. There could also be a 90-day extension if permission is granted by Biden.

If the ban occurs, it will likely face legal challenges from supporters and TikTok itself, which could extend the deadline.

TikTok and its users successfully fought the state-level ban.

What this means for the future of TikTok

Someone else could buy TikTok if its owners decide to sell it if a ban is enacted.

Former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and “Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary are among those who have expressed interest.

Americans want TikTok banned

Nearly Half of March CNBC All-America Economic Participants survey said TikTok should be sold to a non-Chinese company or be banned.

The poll found that 60% of Republicans support a ban or sale, while 40% of Democrats said the same.

Younger Americans are less in favor of prohibition. The CNBC poll found that 48% of 18- to 34-year-olds oppose the ban.

About 50 percent of Americans support the ban, according to a Pew Research Center survey released in March. This is 28% higher than those who said they were not in favor of the ban.