The House is expected to pass a bill on Wednesday that could potentially lead to a ban of the popular video app TikTok in the United States. Lawmakers are concerned about the ownership structure of the Chinese firm ByteDance, which owns TikTok, and believe it poses a threat to national security. The bill would require ByteDance to divest TikTok and other applications it owns within six months of the bill's enactment, or those apps would be prohibited.

Lawmakers argue that ByteDance could be compelled by the Chinese government to access the data of TikTok's consumers in the U.S. due to Chinese national security laws that require organizations to assist with intelligence gathering. The bill would need to pass the Senate as well for it to become law, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has indicated that it will undergo a thorough review.

President Joe Biden has said he will sign the bill if Congress passes it. The House vote is expected to open a new front in the ongoing feud between lawmakers and the tech industry. Ahead of the vote, a top national security official in the Biden administration held a closed-door briefing with lawmakers to discuss TikTok and the national security implications.

TikTok has denied that it could be used as a tool of the Chinese government, stating that it has never shared U.S. user data with Chinese authorities and will not do so if asked. The platform has about 170 million users in the U.S. The security briefing seemed to solidify the views of both sides, with some lawmakers expressing concerns about national security while others believe there is no evidence to show TikTok is a threat.

House Republicans have moved quickly to bring up the bill, even after their offices were inundated with calls from TikTok users demanding they drop the effort. Some lawmakers are anxious to confront China on a range of issues, with the House forming a special committee to focus on China-related issues. Schumer has directed committee chairs to begin working on a bipartisan China competition bill.

Former President Donald Trump has voiced opposition to the bill, believing that banning TikTok would benefit its rival, Facebook. Trump attempted to ban TikTok through an executive order during his presidency, but the courts blocked the action after TikTok sued, arguing it violated free speech and due process rights.