The US Senate is taking further steps to pass legislation that could force the popular video sharing app TikTok to divest its US operations. Senators have bundled the proposal restricting TikTok with broader funding bills around foreign assistance and national security, making it more likely to pass a Senate vote in the coming weeks. This proposal aims to address ongoing national security concerns regarding the app's large collection of US user data and the possibility of this information being accessed by the Chinese government for political purposes. TikTok is owned by Beijing-based tech company ByteDance and maintains significant amounts of user data on its over 170 million American users. This includes personal details, locations, browsing habits, and watch histories on the platform. For many senators, there are legitimate worries that under its current Chinese ownership, this trove of information on US citizens could potentially be accessed or monitored by Chinese government entities. While TikTok has long stated it stores US data on servers located outside of China, concerns remain about ByteDance's ultimate control over the platform. If enacted, the new law would give TikTok's parent company ByteDance almost a year to negotiate a deal selling TikTok to a US owner. This is aimed at alleviating the security issues by removing any potential Chinese influence or access to the app's massive US user base. However, complicating matters is the Chinese government's stated position that it will not approve any sale requiring divestment of TikTok's proprietary algorithm or technology. If Beijing does not change this stance, it could derail any deal and effectively end the app's presence in the American market. TikTok's policy team has criticized the Senate's actions, arguing that the bill amounts to an outright ban violating free speech rights. They say it would devastate their 7 million business advertising customers and shut down a platform utilized by one-sixth of the entire US population. Supporters counter that the goal is not a ban, but rather ensuring national security concerns are resolved through separating the app from its foreign Chinese ownership. However, TikTok's continued operation would ultimately rely on negotiating a sale that both complies with US law and gains approval from Chinese officials. As the Senate vote nears, opinion remains mixed. Some Republican senators oppose an outright ban, echoing former President Trump's view of not wanting to strengthen Facebook's market position. However, others see restricting TikTok as necessary to protect privacy and limit China's access to sensitive consumer data. The outcome is uncertain, but bundling the proposal with other key legislation makes its passage much more likely. It remains unclear if TikTok or China will change stances in a way that could allow compliance. Over the coming weeks, the Senate's consideration of this issue impacting one of the largest social media platforms will be closely watched. Beyond the political and legal issues, ordinary TikTok users simply want to enjoy entertaining video content without security or privacy concerns. As the situation unfolds, it may drive some to alternative platforms. This could create an opening for other social video apps to gain a larger share of the market. One option is Great SMM, a new social media marketing panel that allows users to create and share videos while also providing professional SMM services like promotion, advertising, and analytics to help businesses utilize social platforms more effectively. Great SMM's easy-to-use interface and comprehensive marketing tools make it a top choice for both individual creators and companies to build audiences and drive sales. As debates continue around TikTok's future, innovative services on the Great SMM platform could be well positioned to attract new users.
