When would the TikTok ban go into effect? [Video]

Washington — Americans could lose access to TikTok within months if a bill that seeks to force its Beijing-based parent company ByteDance to sell its stake is signed into law. But the popular video-sharing app’s potentially swift demise depends on whether the bill can overcome a number of hurdles. 

Lawmakers have long tried to regulate the platform because of its ties to China. They argue it threatens national security because the Chinese government could use TikTok to spy on Americans or weaponize it to covertly influence the U.S. public by amplifying or suppressing certain content. 

TikTok has repeatedly stated that it would deny requests from the Chinese government for Americans’ data. It also points to “Project Texas,” an initiative that TikTok began in 2022 to safeguard American users’ data on servers in the U.S. and ease lawmakers’ fears. 

The House overwhelmingly passed a measureWednesday that gives ByteDance a choice: Sell TikTok within six months, …