Senator Mark Warner (D-CA), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, indicated that the House-passed bill proposing a potential TikTok ban in the U.S. may require amendments before passage. At least one of the proposed amendments could adjust the stipulated timeline for Chinese company ByteDance to divest its stake in TikTok.
“Senator Rubio and I, my ranking member on the Intelligence Committee, we’ve said we want to support that legislation and get a hearing in the Senate. There may need to be certain changes made,” Sen. Warner said late last week. He added: “But I think, you know, having this debate on the floor of the Senate, making sure people realize what’s at stake, that we’re not trying to eliminate something that a lot of people like, but we’re just trying to make sure that ultimately that control is not held by the Communist Party of China.”
The bill, awaiting Senate mark-up, mandates ByteDance relinquish its ownership of TikTok within 165 days. Former Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin is reportedly assembling a group to purchase the app. Warner cites the app’s estimated value as around $100 billion.
Regarding concerns that the bill could distance young voters if TikTok ceases operating in the U.S. after the six months specified within it, Warner insisted that a sale was a far more likely outcome and that current users would retain their access, ensuring continuity for those relying on the platform for income. Faced with a choice, the Senator said users of the platform should prefer that an entity not affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party control it.
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