In a major development over the weekend, the United States House of Representatives passed a bill targeting popular social media app TikTok, taking a significant step towards potentially banning the app in the country. The bipartisan vote of 360-58 underscores the growing concerns regarding the app's ownership by its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, and its alleged national security risks.

The bill, which was included in a broad aid package for Israel and Ukraine, closely resembles an earlier version approved in March that aimed to remove TikTok from US app stores unless it finds a new owner promptly. By tying the fate of TikTok to funding for Ukrainian military equipment and Israeli missile defense, House Republicans are urging Senate lawmakers to consider the package as a whole.

Policy analysts predict that the Senate will expedite the approval process for the aid package, substantially increasing the likelihood of the TikTok bill passing. President Joe Biden has previously expressed his intention to sign the legislation if it reaches his desk, further signaling the growing momentum behind the potential ban.

The latest version of the bill, if signed into law, would grant TikTok 270 days to find a new owner, an extension from the shorter period previously contemplated. Furthermore, the White House would have the option to extend the deadline by an additional 90 days if progress towards a sale is determined.

TikTok has been actively opposing the bill, undertaking an intense lobbying campaign to defeat the legislation. The company argues that it infringes upon its users' First Amendment rights and poses a significant threat to small businesses. The social media giant went as far as suggesting potential legal action against the divestiture bill, setting the stage for a potential battle over Americans' right to access digital information.

While Senate lawmakers had initially been divided on the forced sale of TikTok, there appears to be a shift in sentiment following the House's inclusion of a longer deadline in their latest draft. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has highlighted the urgency of approving foreign aid, suggesting a tentative agreement for the Senate to take up the aid package on Tuesday.

Paul Gallant, a policy analyst at Cowen Inc., estimates the odds of the TikTok bill passing through the Senate at 80%. Gallant believes that TikTok is unlikely to be separated from the broader aid package, and expects the legislation to be taken up by the Senate within the next one to two weeks, or possibly even sooner according to Senate leaders.

The fast-tracking of the TikTok bill illustrates how external policy priorities have converged, potentially leading to a detrimental outcome for an app highly popular among young Americans. With the ban on the horizon, TikTok is left grappling with an uncertain future as it navigates the ongoing battle over its ownership and its place in the US market.

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