House panel unanimously approves bill that could ban TikTok [Video]

House lawmakers voted to advance a bill that would ban TikTok from U.S. app stores unless the social media platform’s parent, ByteDance, divests the company.File video above: TikTok challenges Montana ban as more Americans worry about app’s threatThe measure passed unanimously by the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday reflects renewed bipartisan efforts to respond to national security concerns linked to the popular app.The draft legislation would prohibit TikTok from U.S. app stores unless the social media platform – used by roughly 170 million Americans – is quickly spun off from its China-linked parent company, ByteDance.If enacted, the bill would give ByteDance 165 days, or a little more than five months, to sell TikTok. If not divested by that date, it would be illegal for app store operators such as Apple and Google to make it available for download. The bill also contemplates similar prohibitions for other apps “controlled …