In a significant move, House lawmakers have taken steps to restrict the popular video-sharing platform TikTok by advancing a bill that could force the company to be sold or face a national ban. This escalation of efforts puts pressure on the Senate to take action, with the legislation being included in a broader package aimed at providing aid to Israel and Ukraine.

The House voted 360-58 in favor of the bill, which authorizes new penalties against Russia and Iran while also requiring TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company ByteDance. Failure to comply within 360 days could result in a prohibition on offering the app in the United States, effectively banning it nationwide. The bill specifically targets TikTok and ByteDance, but it also grants the president the authority to impose a similar ultimatum on other apps deemed to be "controlled" by "foreign adversaries."

This latest crackdown on TikTok represents one of the most significant threats to the app's operations in the United States. With approximately 170 million American users, TikTok has long raised national security concerns in Washington due to its ties with China. Lawmakers see it as a potential tool for surveillance and the exploitation of personal information.

Support for the legislation appears to be growing in both chambers of Congress, with President Biden expressing his willingness to sign the TikTok bill into law if passed. The Senate, which has plans to address the issue on Tuesday, is seen as the next step in the process. Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer has stated that the Senate is ready to take action.

TikTok has strongly criticized the efforts to ban the app, arguing that it infringes on free speech rights and disputes claims that it is beholden to the Chinese government. The company has launched a counteroffensive, mobilizing its users to voice their opposition to the legislation.

While there is bipartisan support for the TikTok bill in the House, some senators initially called for a slower deliberation process. However, a number of senators, including Senators Warner and Rubio, leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee, are now in favor of including the bill in the aid package. This shift in support comes after lawmakers agreed to give ByteDance more time to sell off TikTok.

The potential ban on TikTok has raised concerns about its impact on American businesses and content creators who rely on the platform for marketing their products and services. Legal obstacles may also present challenges to the ban, as previous attempts to force a sale or ban by the Trump administration and states have faced legal hurdles.

The legislation has drawn criticism from those who argue that it could infringe on Americans' First Amendment rights to access information and media from abroad. Advocacy groups are urging lawmakers to explore alternative approaches to addressing concerns about social media platforms' practices without undermining free speech rights.

As the Senate prepares to address the TikTok bill, the future of the app in the United States hangs in the balance. The outcome of the legislative process will determine whether TikTok faces divestment or a potential nationwide ban, significantly impacting its millions of American users and the broader digital landscape.