Senator Markey's Bill Seeks 270-Day Extension for TikTok Ban Amid Supreme Court Review

Jan 14, 2025, 03:45 PM

Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts has introduced a bill, the Extend the TikTok Deadline Act, aimed at extending the deadline for the TikTok ban by an additional 270 days. This legislative move comes as TikTok faces a looming ban in the United States, set to take effect on January 19, 2025, unless the Supreme Court intervenes. The proposed extension would give TikTok more time to divest from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. Markey's bill reflects concerns over the impact a ban would have on the app's creators and users, who have built vibrant online communities on the platform. Despite acknowledging TikTok's issues with privacy and mental health, Markey argues that a ban would impose serious consequences on millions of Americans who rely on the app for social connections and economic livelihood. The Supreme Court is currently weighing the ban, with a decision pending on whether the law violates the First Amendment.