Deadline Nears for China’s ByteDance to Sell TikTok, Lawmakers Warn
The leaders of the House Select Committee on China urged TikTok Dec. 13 to comply with an eight-month-old law that will ban the popular social media application in the U.S. unless it is divested by Chinese parent company ByteDance by Jan. 19.
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In a letter to TikTok Chief Executive Officer Shou Zi Chew, Reps. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., and Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., the committee’s chairman and ranking member, respectively, noted that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on Dec. 6 upheld the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which was enacted in April (see 2412060035 and 2404240043).
“Congress has provided ample time for TikTok to take the necessary steps to come into compliance,” the lawmakers wrote. “Indeed, TikTok has had 233 days and counting [to achieve compliance.] … We urge TikTok to immediately execute a qualified divestiture.”
TikTok is appealing the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court and is seeking an injunction to stop the ban from taking effect until its appeal is heard.
In separate letters to the CEOs of Apple and Google, Moolenaar and Krishnamoorthi reminded them that their companies also must comply with the new law, which will make it illegal for their app stores to distribute, maintain or update TikTok if a divestiture does not occur. Google declined to comment on the letters, while TikTok and Apple had no immediate response to requests for comment.
Proponents of the divestiture requirement say the Chinese government can use the app to spread anti-U.S. propaganda and gain access to U.S. users' personal information. Opponents say the measure violates constitutional protections for free speech and due process.