The United States House of Representatives is set to vote on Wednesday on a bill aimed at severing ties between popular video app TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance, amid concerns over national security.

The proposed legislation would mandate ByteDance to divest from TikTok and other affiliated apps within six months of the bill's passage or risk facing prohibition. Lawmakers argue that ByteDance's ties to the Chinese government pose a potential threat, as it could demand access to the data of TikTok users in the U.S., citing Chinese national security laws requiring organizations to assist in intelligence gathering.

Although the bill is expected to pass in the House, it will face further scrutiny in the Senate. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stated that the bill would undergo a thorough review before any decision is made.

President Joe Biden has expressed support for the bill and would sign it into law if it reaches his desk. The measure, officially known as the "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act," would require ByteDance to sell TikTok within 180 days or face removal from app stores in the U.S. It also grants the president authority to designate other apps as national security threats if controlled by adversarial countries.

TikTok executives, including CEO Shou Zi Chew, are lobbying in Washington against the bill, raising constitutional concerns over its rushed passage. However, co-sponsors of the bill, House Republican Mike Gallagher and House Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi, along with the White House, argue that the bill does not amount to a ban on TikTok, as long as ByteDance divests from the app.

Former President Donald Trump, who previously sought to restrict TikTok's operations in the U.S., expressed opposition to a ban, citing concerns over strengthening competing platforms like Meta, owner of Instagram and Facebook. Trump's change in stance has raised speculation, although he denies any influence from major TikTok investors.

Efforts to ban TikTok have faced legal challenges in the past, with concerns raised over free speech. Despite TikTok's assertions of independence from the Chinese government and efforts to keep U.S. user data within the country, the debate over its ownership and potential risks to national security continues.