​US Congress closer to banning TikTok

The potential banning of TikTok in the United States has taken a significant step forward as US Congress has moved closer to implementing the decision. The bill, which could lead to a nationwide ban of the popular app within nine months, has been approved by both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The bill was passed by a considerable margin in Congress, with 79 votes in favor and 18 against. US President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill into law, signaling his support for the measure.

Concerns over TikTok's ownership by Chinese company ByteDance have fueled the move, with fears that the app could pose national security risks and be used as a tool for espionage. Despite TikTok's assurances that it would not share user data with Chinese authorities, US lawmakers remain wary.

Under the terms of the bill, ByteDance must sell TikTok within nine months or face a complete ban in the US, including removal from app stores. ByteDance may choose to challenge the bill in court, arguing that it violates users' First Amendment rights to freedom of speech.

The potential ban has implications for the app's vast user base, which includes over 170 million users in the US alone. Content creators on TikTok, numbering over a million worldwide, may also contest the decision, further complicating the situation.