Gambiaj.com – (WASHINGTON) – The U.S Senate has moved closer to passing a bill that includes a provision to ban the popular social media app TikTok, amidst broader foreign aid measures. The bill, part of a larger package, would require TikTok’s China-based parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app or face a ban from U.S. devices and networks.

The Senate’s 80-19 vote to limit debate on the package indicates strong support for the measure, despite opposition from both sides of the aisle. The House-passed package, which also includes $95 billion in foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, is expected to be sent to President Biden’s desk soon, with a final vote possible as early as Tuesday night.

President Biden is likely to sign the foreign aid package, having previously expressed support for the TikTok ban legislation when it was introduced as the Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act in March. The bill’s inclusion in the package extends the time ByteDance has to sell TikTok to up to a year, easing concerns from critics.

Supporters of the bill argue that it is necessary to address national security risks posed by TikTok’s China-based ownership, citing classified briefings lawmakers have received. However, critics raise free speech concerns and argue that the bill does not address broader industry-wide issues regarding data privacy.

If signed into law, the bill would also grant the president authority to designate other foreign adversary-controlled apps with ties to Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. TikTok has strongly opposed the legislation, stating that it would infringe on the free speech rights of millions of Americans and harm millions of businesses.

Despite potential legal challenges, similar to past efforts targeting the app, the bill’s advancement marks a significant step in the ongoing debate over the app’s future in the United States.