Senators Markey, Wyden and Booker and Rep. Khanna announces legislation to extend TikTok ban deadline

170 million US users, including small businesses and non-profit organizations, would be affected by the January 19 deadline

Invoice text (PDF)

Washington (January 14, 2025) – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Cory Booker (DN.J.) and Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17) today announced the induction of Extend the TikTok deadline lawlegislation that would delay the Jan. 19 deadline by which ByteDance must sell TikTok or face a ban by another 270 days. On January 13, Senator Markey made remarks on the US Senate floor and live on TikTok regarding the consequences of TikTok being banned in the US.

“The TikTok ban was rushed through without sufficient consideration of the profound consequences it would have for the 170 million Americans who use the platform,” Senator Markey said. “Today, TikTok is a space where users share critical resources during emergencies like the Los Angeles wildfires, earn money to cover groceries and medical care, and build community during challenging times. They Extend the TikTok deadline law is a straightforward, one-sentence bill designed to give Congress the time necessary to fully assess the implications of this ban. I urge my colleagues to act swiftly on this legislation.”

“The hasty divestment of Tiktok is a huge giveaway to Donald Trump and his cronies, who are poised to scoop up a massive social media company and turn it into yet another partisan mouthpiece. I’m not going to back down to anyone when it comes to protecting American personal data from China — I’ve written three of the strongest bills offered to protect sensitive US data An extension to the deadline to sell TikTok would allow Congress to consider better ways to mitigate threats from China, courts to review the law and additional bidders to make proposals to acquire TikTok with more time for public scrutiny.” Senator Wyden said.

“Tens of millions of Americans use TikTok for entertainment, business and social networking, including myself,” Senator Booker said. “Americans should not be blocked from expressing themselves freely on the platforms they choose. I believe ByteDance should divest from TikTok, but it should be given sufficient time to complete a sale. That is why I am working with Senators Markey and Wyden on this legislation that would extend the deadline.”

“A ban on TikTok violates the free speech rights of 170 million Americans and hurts the livelihoods of creators and small business owners who use the app,” said Representative Khanna. “We need laws to protect Americans’ data, but banning TikTok is not the answer. I’m proud to join Senator Markey in introducing this legislation to pause the TikTok ban for 270 days.”

Senators Markey and Rand Paul (R-Ky.), along with Congressman Ro Khanna (CA-17), recently filed a bipartisan, bicameral amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the DC Circuit Court’s decision in TikTok Inc. against Garlandwhich upheld the TikTok ban established under Protecting Americans from Foreign Counterintelligence Controlled Applications Act. In the brief, Senators Markey and Paul and Representative Khanna argued that the TikTok ban lacks evidence and directly conflicts with the First Amendment, undermining the rights of over 170 million Americans who use the platform. On December 19, Senators Markey and Paul sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to give TikTok owner ByteDance a 90-day extension to either sell TikTok or face the ban.

###