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The US is moving a step closer to banning TikTok with a vote in the House of Representatives.
Lawmakers will vote on a bill that would effectively stop Americans from using the popular video-sharing app.
It comes after the US House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously passed the legislation.
But how would a ban work, what would it mean for users – and are we set for something similar in the UK?
What would the bill mean?
The bill would require the Chinese company ByteDance to sell its stake in the US version of TikTok or the app would be effectively banned.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the goal is ending Chinese ownership – not banning TikTok.
But it is unclear if China would approve any sale or if it could go ahead within six months.
There’s also a question mark over who would buy it – although if the legislation is passed, it could make the sale price cheaper.
“Somebody would have to actually be ready to shell out the large amount of money that this product and system is worth,” said Stanford University researcher Graham Webster, who studies Chinese technology policy and US-China relations.
“But even if somebody has deep enough pockets and is ready to go into negotiating to purchase, this sort of matchmaking on acquisitions is not quick.”
What would it mean for users?
The app is used by about 170 million Americans.
If it is banned, it would be removed from app stores including Apple and Google, and blocked on web hosting services.
This would remain in place until ByteDance sold TikTok.
However, it is likely users could still access the app using virtual private networks (VPNs) that bypass restrictions, according to telecom analyst Roger Entner.
Why is the US worried about TikTok?
Both the FBI and Federal Communications Commission have…
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