TikTok Ban Bill: US Senate Wants Public Hearing and to ‘Get It Right'

Isaiah Richard, Tech Times 20 March 2024, 09:03 pm

The recently House-approved RESTRICT Act, a.k.a. the TikTok ban bill, will soon see a hearing, which the US Senate wants to hold in public for the world to see. This is now under the consideration of Senate Commerce Committee chair Maria Cantwell after the lawmakers were sat down on a closed-door briefing from the US Justice Department and national intelligence.

TikTok Ban Bill: US Senate Wants a Public Hearing

According to Reuters' report, Cantwell told the press that she is considering a public hearing for the TikTok ban bill's proceedings, one that would have the Senate address the concerns they have on TikTok. It would expand more of what the US will do once the bill moves forward, centering on the many provisions of the law that would soon lead to massive changes for the Chinese-owned social media.

The public hearing may not change anything apart from detailing more of how the country will proceed with the ban, as the House floor vote suggested that the majority of the lawmakers are in favor of this.

The RESTRICT Act moving forward would lead to TikTok being forced to cut ties with ByteDance and do so in the next 180 days or six months before an outright ban.

US Senate Wants TikTok Crackdown Bill 'Right'

According to Cantwell, "It's important to get it right," but did not reveal a timeline for the next steps that will take place for the bill. The committee chair will also meet with the House's sponsor of the bill, Representative Mike Gallagher, to figure out the next steps for the legislation.

Moreover, the Senate is set to take a recess later this week until April 8, with more than a month before new developments.

TikTok US Ban: Divest Assets or Be Gone

Last week, TikTok faced a massive threat about an upcoming ban as the US House passed the bill that could lead to significant scrutiny against them should it move forward.

The bill is also known for being backed by President Joe Biden who previously said that he would sign it once it gets passed by the House and arrives in his office, ready for it to be turned into law.

It was defended by the lawmakers as a law that is not targeting TikTok directly, as it gives the platform six months of 180 days to sell its assets to an American company and cut its ties with ByteDance.

Moreover, TikTok is also known for protesting the bill, suggesting that it is not looking to cut ties with ByteDance, amidst the many interested parties looking to acquire the social media platform.

With the House floor's vote that helped the bill inch toward future legislation, it would only be a matter of time before this takes into effect and identifies the social media as a foreign entity. The US Senate is looking to take this hearing to the public, with the lawmakers set to detail what the bill truly means, looking to do it right and center on a crackdown against TikTok and other foreign entities.