US Congress goes bang, bang, on TikTok sale-or-ban plan

The U.S. House passed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, targeting TikTok by mandating that ByteDance divest its U.S. operations or face a ban that would prohibit distribution, maintenance, and updates. The bill moves to the Senate amid debates over free speech, economic impacts on creators, and the practicality of separating U.S. operations from global infrastructure, especially given China’s stated opposition to a sale. The piece notes past—and currently uncertain—interest from U.S. firms in acquiring or hosting TikTok and highlights the broader context of China’s restrictions on Western social platforms.