The US Senate has passed a 95 Billion dollar aid package providing aid to Ukraine and Israel, humanitarian relief for Gaza, as well as 8 Billion dollars for security in Taiwan. Part of that package is a provision that could lead to a nationwide ban on TikTok.

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The U.S. Senate has approved a substantial aid package valued at $95 billion, aiming to support Ukraine and Israel while also addressing humanitarian needs in Gaza and bolstering security measures in Taiwan. The package includes a significant allocation of $80 billion in aid for Ukraine and $26 billion for Israel. These financial commitments follow a pattern established two months ago when similar amounts were earmarked for these countries in a related foreign aid initiative. A notable component of this legislative package is a provision that may pave the way for a nationwide prohibition of TikTok, amidst growing concern over the app's Chinese ownership and potential implications for national security.

The legislative process displayed a rare instance of bipartisan support, underscoring the widespread consensus among lawmakers regarding the urgency and importance of these measures. The inclusion of the TikTok provision follows a period of intensified scrutiny by Congress over the social media platform, which has been criticized not necessarily for its content or operations but rather for its ties to ByteDance, a Chinese company. Legislators have expressed concerns that through TikTok, the Chinese Communist Party could potentially access a vast array of user data, posing risks to American citizens, including both civilians and military personnel.

Amidst this backdrop, protests by American youth, who are among the most active users of TikTok, unfolded outside the Senate. Despite their opposition, the legislative focus remains on safeguarding national security from foreign exploitation and espionage, without specifically targeting ByteDance or TikTok. 

The FBI has also weighed in on the discussion, with its director highlighting TikTok as a national security threat due to its parent company's obligations to the Chinese government. This stance brings to light the broader concerns about the level of control and influence that the Chinese government, through companies like ByteDance, could wield over American data and security.

In response to these concerns, the new legislative provision stipulates that the Chinese owners of TikTok have a nine-month window to divest the company to a non-Chinese entity to avoid a ban in the U.S. However, this period can be extended by President Biden for an additional three months, mitigating the immediate threat of a ban and distancing the issue from potential electoral ramifications.



U.S. Senate approves $95b aid package for Israel and Ukraine

no, the ayes appear to have it, the ayes do have it, and the motion is agreed to. The legislation receives support on both sides of the aisle, rare bipartisan agreement on the hill. It provides $80 billion in aid to Ukraine and $26 billion to Israel, amounts that were approved two months ago in a similar foreign aid package that did not have the TikTok provision. The Chinese-owned social media company has been under fire in Congress for months, despite its wild popularity among American youth, some of whom were protesting outside the Senate against the measure. Senators were at pains to point out it's not TikTok itself that is the concern, rather the Chinese ownership of the app. Congress is not acting to punish ByteDance, TikTok, or any other individual company. Congress is acting to prevent foreign adversaries from conducting espionage, surveillance, maligned operations, harming vulnerable Americans, our servicemen and women, and our U.S. government personnel. Currently, the Chinese Communist Party is able to gain unlimited access to the account information of TikTok users if it so chooses. Elsewhere, the director of the FBI added his voice to the TikTok debate. TikTok for us represents a national security concern. And the reason I say that is that TikTok's parent company is beholden to the Chinese government. And so when people, when Americans stop and think about how do they feel about the power, the access, the capability, the control that TikTok has, they need to be thinking about it in terms of how do they feel about that same power, access, capability, control in the hands of TikTok's parent, in Chinese government, and ultimately in the Chinese intelligence services. The Chinese owners of TikTok have been given nine months in which to sell the company or it will be banned in the U.S. President Biden can expend this period for three months if he wishes. With an immediate ban no longer being contemplated, Congress has ensured it does not become an issue in the November election. Mike Hanna, Al Jazeera, Washington.

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