U.S. Senate bans TikTok on government devices

The U.S. Senate on Thursdayunanimously approved a bill from Sen.Josh Hawley banningfederal employees from using video-sharing app TikTok ongovernment-issued devices, amid threats from the White House toban the company.

The app has come under fire from U.S. lawmakers and theTrump administration over national security concernsdue toChina's ByteDance owning the technology. The company currentlyfaces a deadline of Sept. 15 to either sell its U.S. operationsto Microsoft,or face an outright ban.

Under a Chinese law introduced in 2017, companies have anobligation to support and co-operate in the country's nationalintelligence work.

"I'm encouraged by the bipartisan support we have seen inthis body to hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable andthat includes ... holding accountable those corporations whowould just do China's bidding," Republican senatorHawley said in astatement.

"And, if I have anything to say about it, we won't bestopping here."

Last month, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to barfederal employees from downloading the app on government-issueddevices as part of a proposal, offered by Rep. KenBuck.

With passage in the House and approval by the Senate, theprohibition is expected to soon become law in the United States.

A TikTok spokespersonsaid its growing U.S. team has nohigher priority than promoting a safe app experience thatprotects userprivacy.

On Wednesday, TikTok said it was working with experts fromthe U.S. Department of Homeland Security to "protect againstforeign influence" and fact-check potential misinformation aboutthe upcoming U.S. presidential election.