President Joe Biden Wednesday signed a law that would ban Chinese-owned TikTok unless it is sold within one year. It is the most serious threat yet to the video-streaming application’s future in the U.S., intensifying America’s tech war with China. (NPR)
The original proposal gave parent company ByteDance just six months to divest from its U.S. subsidiary, but negotiations lengthened it to nine. Then, if the sale is already in progress, the company will get another three months to complete it. (AP)
TikTok’s CEO Shou Zi Chew said Wednesday that the social media company expects to win a legal challenge to block the legislation, which would ban the popular short video app used by 170 million Americans. (Reuters)
“We are confident, and we will keep fighting for your rights in the courts,” Chew said. “The facts, and the Constitution, are on our side … rest assured, we aren’t going anywhere.” (BBC News)
TikTok creators weren’t surprised to hear that Biden signed the bill, but they are close to unanimous in their belief that the federal government is wrong to push the legislation forward. (NBC News)
So: You’ve decided to force a multibillion-dollar technology company with ties to China to divest from its powerful social video app. Congratulations! Here’s what’s next: *awful gurgling noises* (The Atlantic)