The House of Representatives passed legislation on Saturday that would ban TikTok in the United States if the China-based owner, ByteDance Ltd, does not sell its stake within a year. The decision to include TikTok in a larger foreign aid package was fast-tracked after an earlier version of the bill had stalled in the Senate. The bipartisan measure passed by a 360-58 vote and is now headed to the Senate for further consideration.

The bill's quick path through Congress is remarkable as it targets one specific company, marking a departure from the usual hands-off approach to tech regulation. Lawmakers have expressed concerns about Chinese threats to the U.S., with worries that the Chinese government could access American user data through TikTok or influence the content on the platform.

TikTok has vehemently denied these allegations and has pushed back against the legislation, mobilizing its 170 million U.S. users to voice opposition to the ban. The company has also indicated that it may challenge the law in court, arguing that it would violate the First Amendment rights of its users.

The bill's passage has sparked anxiety and anger among TikTok content creators, many of whom rely on the platform for income. Nadya Okamoto, a popular TikTok creator with 4 million followers, expressed concern about the impact the ban would have on her livelihood. She emphasized that the legislation would have real repercussions for creators and businesses that rely on TikTok.

Despite the strong opposition from TikTok and its users, the legislation reflects broader concerns about Chinese influence in the U.S. and the need to protect national security. The bill's fate in the Senate remains uncertain, and the possibility of legal challenges from TikTok could further delay or prevent the ban from taking effect.