WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Efforts to ban TikTok in the U.S. have been revived and could get a vote in Congress as early as Saturday but those opposed say that’s a violation of Americans’ free speech rights.
The legislation now has the support of a key senator and likely has enough yes votes in Congress to pass.
The bill to ban TikTok is included in a supplemental foreign aid package to help Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan.
The House passed legislation earlier this year to force the sale of TikTok by its Chinese owner, a company called ByteDance.
Under that bill, ByteDance would have six months to divest TikTok or face a ban in the U.S.
Now that six-month period has been extended to nine months with a three-month extension if a sale is underway.
That was enough to win the support of Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell, Chair of the powerful Senate Commerce committee.
TikTok opponents say the apps gives the Chinese Communist Party access to American users’ data.
Some in Congress have even called TikTok a national security threat.
ByteDance denies giving any user data to the Chinese communist government.
TikTok has spent millions on advertising and lobbying efforts to stop the legislation from passing.
Opponents of the legislation say it’s unconstitutional by infringing on free speech rights and giving the president too much authority.
“Because every national security expert, intelligence, military, they will tell you that this is a spy balloon in your phone. Like a Chinese spy balloon in your phone,” said Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas.)
The legislation is expected to get a vote sometime on Saturday.
