Countdown to TikTok crackdown: Popular app could see U.S. ban in 9 months

TikTok now risks becoming a high-profile casualty of the cold-war sequel developing between China and the United States.

It's one of the world's most popular social media platforms, wildly popular with younger people. And, within a year, it could be banned in the U.S.

At issue is a provision tacked into a sprawling piece of legislation now poised to become law, when President Joe Biden signs it Wednesday. 

The bill offer the app's Chinese-based parent company two choices: Sell the app or see it shut down, sometime between next January and April, in its biggest national market.

This sets up a year of intense battles on multiple fronts in courtrooms, boardrooms and the presidential election trail.

Here's a summary of the situation.

Late Tuesday evening, in a 79-18 vote, the U.S. Senate passed a major national-security bill that arms America's allies and sanctions adversaries.

The biggest immediate story in the bill is the long-awaited weapons delivery to Ukraine — a months-long resupply intended to halt Russian advances.

About two-thirds of the $95-billion US package is going to Ukraine's self-defence, with the remainder going primarily to weapons for Taiwan and Israel.

"Finally, finally, finally," said Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, celebrating the end of a six-month struggle to pass this bill.

"America sends a message to the entire world: We will not turn our back on you. Tonight we tell our allies we stand with you, we tell our adversaries don't mess with us."

The Republican-led House had tucked the TikTok element into the bill, and it had overwhelming bipartisan support.

It forbids American companies from distributing, maintaining or updating apps controlled by foreign adversaries, defined as North Korea, China, Russia and Iran in an existing law. 

The bill specifically singles out TikTok and its China-based parent company, ByteDance Inc.