Senator Proposes Alternative to TikTok Divestiture Requirement
Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., unveiled a “discussion draft” bill July 31 that could eliminate the requirement that China’s ByteDance sell TikTok or face a U.S. ban on the popular social media application.
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Under Markey's TikTok Transparency and Data Security Act, ByteDance would have to disclose certain information about the app, including descriptions of its content moderation practices. It also would have to limit foreign access to the data of TikTok’s American users.
Markey said his bill would address national security concerns about TikTok while avoiding a shutdown of the app in the U.S. TikTok critics say the Chinese government could use the app to spread dangerous propaganda and gain access to U.S. users' personal information.
While a 2024 law requires ByteDance to divest TikTok by January, no deal has been announced, even though President Donald Trump has extended the deadline three times (see 2506200040). The latest extension moved the deadline to Sept. 17.