The United States is considering a law that would force ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, to sell its shares to non-Chinese shareholders or face a ban of the app in the country. This ultimatum means that ByteDance must either sell or shut down TikTok. The House is set to vote on an aid package for Israel and Ukraine this Saturday, which includes a provision regarding TikTok. The bill allows ByteDance up to a year to find potential buyers, compared to the original six months.
Europe, specifically Italy, has yet to take a stance on the issue. Senator Giulio Terzi of Sant’Agata, president of the Senate EU Policies Committee, believes that TikTok is a dangerous platform that is used for propaganda purposes by countries like Russia and China. He asserts that Europe must coordinate efforts to protect democratic processes, following the lead of the United States in taking action against Chinese-owned companies like TikTok.
On the other hand, Senator Enrico Borghi, leader of Italia Viva and a member of the intelligence control committee, acknowledges the geopolitical complexities surrounding the issue. He believes that while the warnings from the United States and Europe cannot be ignored, the implications on freedom of expression and business must be carefully considered.
The Senate in the United States is expected to vote on whether to ban TikTok from the country altogether. President Joe Biden has promised to sign any such legislation immediately. National security experts consider TikTok to be a tool for propaganda and data collection by