The U.S. Congress is on the verge of passing significant legislation that could potentially ban the popular app TikTok in the U.S., a move that could further deepen the technological rift between the U.S. and China. The House of Representatives recently passed a law with an overwhelming majority that would force ByteDance, the Chinese owner of TikTok, to sell the app or ban it within a year. This measure was part of a comprehensive aid package for Israel and Ukraine.

The House of Representatives' decision follows growing concerns about national security, particularly the fear that Beijing could use the app to collect data on US citizens or promote Chinese propaganda. The USA has expressed similar concerns about other Chinese companies like Huawei in the past, leading to severe sanctions.

TikTok Criticizes Legislation, Argues It Amounts to a Ban as Finding a Buyer Would Be Difficult Within Set Timeline. Chinese Government Indicates It Wouldn't Permit Forced Sale of the Company. TikTok Emphasizes It Has Never Been Asked to Share US User Data with Chinese Authorities, and Would Not Comply if Asked.

The tensions between the USA and China have escalated in recent years, with both sides taking steps to reduce their dependence on the other's technology. This new law could lead to further retaliatory measures and strain the relations even more.

If the Senate passes the bill, which is expected in the coming days, and President Biden signs it, this would significantly increase the pressure on TikTok and could lead to legal challenges from the company or video creators who rely on the platform.