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In a significant shift from earlier stances, U.S. lawmakers are now scrambling to save TikTok from a possible ban as the company faces a January 19th deadline to divest from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. There appears to be a bipartisan effort to extend this deadline amid growing concerns about national security risks versus the livelihoods of millions of American users heavily reliant on the platform.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has raised alarm over the potential economic and social disruptions a hasty ban may cause, pushing for more time to facilitate a proper sale, while Representative Mike Waltz noted provisions that could allow for a 90-day extension if tangible progress is made towards a divestiture.