Breaking: US House Approves TikTok Ban Bill

Legislation passed by the House of Representatives poses a significant threat to TikTok's presence in the United States unless the app severs ties with its Chinese owner, ByteDance.

The bill, which has yet to face Senate scrutiny, could force TikTok to disassociate from ByteDance within approximately five months, failing which the app would be barred from American app stores. President Joe Biden has indicated his willingness to sign the bill if it clears the Senate.

TikTok has vehemently opposed the legislation, viewing it as an infringement on the First Amendment rights of its users. The company has urged its user base to contact their congressional representatives to oppose the bill. Meanwhile, China's foreign ministry has condemned the measure as an "act of bullying" in advance of the vote.

The bill passed the House by a wide margin of 352-65, with a notable bipartisan split in opposition, including 15 Republicans and 50 Democrats voting against it. The passage of the bill in the Republican-controlled House contrasts with former President Donald Trump's expressed reservations about banning TikTok.

If enacted, the legislation would prevent TikTok's availability on US app stores unless it separates from ByteDance, posing a significant challenge to the platform, which boasts roughly 170 million American users.