US President Joe Biden has indicated his intention to sign legislation currently advancing through Congress that could result in a nationwide ban on the popular social media app TikTok.

The House of Representatives is set to vote on legislation that would grant Biden the authority to ban TikTok unless its parent company, ByteDance, divests the app within six months. Biden expressed his willingness to sign the legislation if it passes.

The proposed legislation aims to address concerns about TikTok's ties to its China-based parent company, ByteDance, amid fears that it poses national security threats due to potential collaboration with the Chinese government.

However, the bill faces uncertainty in the Senate, where some lawmakers are seeking revisions. The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act would require Senate approval before reaching Biden's desk.

If enacted, the legislation would empower Biden, with input from intelligence agencies, to designate certain social media apps as national security threats if they are deemed controlled by foreign adversaries.

Lawmakers cite concerns over China potentially accessing US user data, although TikTok denies sharing such data with Beijing.

TikTok has criticized the proposed legislation as an "outright ban" that would infringe on the First Amendment rights of millions of Americans and harm small businesses relying on the platform.

Meanwhile, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has criticized the move as a politically motivated effort, emphasizing TikTok's role as a vital communication platform for many Americans.

Despite being banned on US government devices, TikTok continues to enjoy widespread popularity, with 170 million downloads in the United States. Even Biden's re-election campaign has recently joined the platform.