House votes to advance bill potentially banning TikTok, sending it to Senate

The US House of Representatives has taken a significant step towards potentially banning TikTok in the country or forcing its sale, passing a bill with a vote of 360-58.

Originally introduced in March, the bill was bundled into a foreign aid package for this round, elevating its priority status. The legislation requires TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest from the app within a year to avoid a ban in US app stores.

The bill's passage in the House sets the stage for a Senate vote, which could happen as early as this coming Tuesday. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer indicated that negotiations are underway to schedule the vote. President Joe Biden has previously expressed support for the bill.

TikTok has been framed as a national security concern due to its Chinese ownership and access to user data. With approximately 170 million US users, TikTok's potential ban raises concerns about free speech rights and economic impact. The app's policy account on X argued that such legislation would negatively affect millions of businesses and the US economy.