The United States House of Representatives has passed a bill that could eventually ban the social media platform TikTok in the country in its latest 'warning' against China and their technology.
The bill received bipartisan support with a vote of 352 to 65 in favor. It now heads towards the 100-member Senate where its purpose is still unclear.
US President Joe Biden has said he will sign the bill if it reaches his desk.
If that happens, TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance will be given about six months to divest its assets in the United States or see the video-sharing app banned in the country.
The legislation stems from concerns that ByteDance is more bound to Chinese government directives than the United States. Government officials have expressed concern that the data TikTok collects from about 170 million American users could pose a national security threat.
A recent national security law passed in China could force the organization to help with intelligence gathering and further heighten those concerns.
However, ByteDance firmly reiterated that their stand operates freely without being controlled by the Chinese government.
Before the House vote, a top national security official in the Biden administration held a closed-door briefing with lawmakers to discuss TikTok and its implications for national security.
Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers reported numerous complaints about TikTok's many users defying the country's laws.
Yesterday, some hardcore TikTok users including influential groups gathered in front of the US Capitol before the vote. The company also released a statement opposing the vote.
