The proposed law would prohibit apps controlled by "foreign adversaries". TikTok has urged users to...
A US congressional panel has approved a bill that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the app within six months or face a ban.
TikTok says the proposed legislation would hurt free speech and small businesses that rely the app.
The committee chairwoman criticised TikTok's mobilisation of its users, to which the platform responded: "Why are members of Congress complaining about hearing from their constituents? Respectfully, isn't that their job?".
Lawmakers say TikTok's owner ByteDance has links with the Chinese Communist Party - something denied by ByteDance and TikTok.
The bill makes specific reference to ByteDance - which would be forced under the terms of the bill to sell TikTok, or face removal from mobile app stores in the US. It does not contain any provision for individual users of the app to face legal action.
Raja Krishnamoorthi, an Illinois Democrat, said TikTok posed "Critical threats to our national security" because its parent company was "Required to collaborate" with China's political leadership.
The bill's proponents deny the move amounts to an overt ban on TikTok, arguing that ByteDance is being given a window of about six months to comply.
In a statement posted to X, TikTok described the move as "An outright ban... no matter how much the authors try to disguise it".
The proposed legislation represents the latest attempt by American lawmakers to curb TikTok.
An attempt by former US President Donald Trump to ban TikTok and Chinese-owned WeChat hit legal obstacles and never came into force.