Lawmakers Debate TikTok's Future Amid Security Concerns

U.S. lawmakers are at odds over the future of TikTok, with Republican and Democratic perspectives on how to address security concerns tied to its Chinese ownership. Republicans, like John Moolenaar, argue that any deal allowing ByteDance to maintain control of TikTok is a violation of U.S. law, while Democrats, including Senators Ed Markey, Chris Van Hollen, and Cory Booker, urge President Trump to work with Congress on extending the deadline for TikTok's divestiture to U.S. ownership. They emphasize that relying solely on executive action raises legal questions and uncertainty for TikTok’s American users. The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act mandates ByteDance's divestment, but there is debate over how much involvement ByteDance could retain without breaching U.S. law. The senators propose the Extend the TikTok Deadline Act to delay the deadline until October, while discussions continue about a possible deal involving U.S. tech firms like Oracle. The legislative and executive branches are urged to collaborate to provide clarity and fairness in the process.