Senate democrats urge Biden to delay TikTok ban

The Justice Department recently stated that TikTok's access to sensitive data makes it a potential tool for espionage by the Chinese government.

By: Express Web Desk

Updated: January 17, 2025 05:31 AM IST

2 min read

The deadline for ByteDance to sell TikTok, originally set by Congress in April, stems from national security concerns over the app’s data collection practices. (File Photo)

A growing number of US lawmakers are urging President Joe Biden to delay a potential ban on TikTok, warning that shutting down the app could harm millions of creators and businesses across the country.

Senator Ed Markey, a Democrat, said on Thursday, “We need time to find a reasonable solution so TikTok doesn’t get shut down. Let’s take a step back, pause, and try to work this out.”

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has also appealed to Biden, asking him to extend the deadline for Chinese-owned ByteDance to sell its US TikTok operations. Without action, the app could face a ban this Sunday, impacting its 170 million American users. “We need more time to find a US buyer and avoid disrupting the lives of millions, including influencers who rely on the platform,” Schumer said through an aide.

Also read | Trump will ‘put measures in place’ to save TikTok from ‘going dark’, top adviser says

The deadline for ByteDance to sell TikTok, originally set by Congress in April, stems from national security concerns over the app’s data collection practices. The Justice Department recently stated that TikTok’s access to sensitive data makes it a potential tool for espionage by the Chinese government.

A White House official said on Thursday that the timing of the deadline – falling over a holiday weekend and just before the presidential inauguration – means the next administration will likely have to handle the issue. Biden has not indicated plans to extend the deadline.

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According to Reuters, TikTok intends to shut down its US operations on Sunday unless there is a last-minute delay.

Democratic senators Ed Markey, Cory Booker, and Chris Van Hollen have written to Biden urging immediate action. “Without your intervention, TikTok is likely to go dark on Sunday, with serious consequences for 170 million Americans and 7 million businesses,” they wrote, calling Biden’s administration “the last chance” to prevent the shutdown.

(With inputs from Reuters)

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