The company "weaponised" its US users in a lobbying effort against a bill before Congress, sources...
US congressional offices have told the BBC they are being deluged with calls from TikTok users about legislation that could see the popular app banned.
Callers range from teenagers to the elderly, and most are "Really confused and are calling because 'TikTok told me to'", one Republican staffer revealed.
The bill, introduced by a bipartisan group of 20 lawmakers, would mandate that ByteDance sell TikTok within six months, or TikTok would be removed from mobile app stores in the US. The legislation is sailing through Congress, winning rare unanimous approval from a key committee, and the full House is expected to vote on it on Wednesday.
Its swift advance has drawn a frantic last-minute push by TikTok to mobilise users directly against those responsible for the legislation.
TikTok confirmed to the BBC it had sent a notification urging TikTokers to "Call your representative now" to urge them to vote against the measure.
"American phones were geolocated and TikTok users were locked out of the platform until they called their members of Congress. ByteDance weaponized the app against America, and that is exactly why the Congressman supports this measure."
When contacted about those allegations by the BBC, TikTok provided the statement: "With regards to users being locked out of the app until they called, that is false. All users had two methods for dismissing the notifications."
"I am deeply troubled by reports of young people calling Congress, threatening to commit suicide or otherwise harm themselves," Mr Torres said in a statement to the BBC. "The iron grip that TikTok has on the minds of young people is a profound public health hazard."
A spokesperson for Dusty Johnson told the BBC his office had received calls from people who were very upset, as well as "Some people who are asking kindly if TikTok is going to be banned, and some have said TikTok wouldn't let them on the app without calling their".
Mr Johnson, a South Dakota Republican, has been outspoken about the national security threat posed by TikTok and is supportive of the proposed bill.