Huge blow for China, USA to ban TikTok; US Senate passes crucial bill

WASHINGTON: The U.S. Senate has passed a bill that strengthens the move to ban video sharing app TikTok in the country. The bill will become law once President Joe Biden signs it. Biden has made it clear that he will sign it soon.

Driven by widespread worries among U.S. lawmakers that China could access Americans' data or surveil them with the app, the bill was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Saturday.

"For years we've allowed the Chinese Communist party to control one of the most popular apps in America that was dangerously shortsighted," said Senator Marco Rubio, the top Republican on the Intelligence Committee. "A new law is going to require its Chinese owner to sell the app. This is a good move for America."

The version of the bill approved Saturday would, if signed, give TikTok 270 days to find a new owner, which is more than roughly six months contemplated under older versions of the legislation. The bill also gives the White House the ability to extend that deadline for another 90 days if the US President believes there is progress towards a sale.

TikTok has over 15 million users in the US. Considering the security threat, many countries, including the U.S., as well as the European Union had banned it on devices related to governments.