A bill was passed in the House on Wednesday that concerns a ban of the popular social media video app TikTok in the United States over concerns the company's ownership structure is a threat to national security.
The bill requires the firm ByteDance, a Chinese company, to either divest from TikTok and other apps within six months or face the consequences.
US lawmakers argue that ByteDance is loyal to the Chinese government and that said government could demand the company give it access to the data of TikTok users in the United States whenever they wish.
The worry comes from national security laws in Communist China that could force companies to assist in intelligence-gathering activities.
The bill having passed the House is only the first step. The Senate now needs to pass the measure as well before it becomes law, and lawmakers there have said it would undergo a rigorous review.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he'll have to consult with relevant committee chairs to determine the bill's path.
President Joe Biden has stated on several occasions that he would sign the measure if it passes through Congress and former Vice President Mike Pence recently wrote an op-ed piece for Fox News calling TikTok "digital fentanyl."
GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump is against the ban. US lawmakers say TikTok won't be banned if it finds a new owner. There are approximately 170 million TikTok users in the United States.
