The famous video app TikTok's Chinese owners were warned by people with knowledge of the matter that the US may prohibit their app unless they sold their interests, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The US government's move would be the biggest in a succession of recent ones that have some people worried that China's government may have accessed information on US TikTok users. In the US, TikTok is utilised by more than 100 million people.

The White House didn't say anything.

According to Brooke Oberwetter, a spokesman for TikTok, divestment "doesn't address the problem" if the goal is to protect national security because a change of ownership wouldn't affect how data travels or who has access to it.

The next week, TikTok's CEO, Shou Zi Chew, would testify before Congress.

Any limitation would be seen as having legal constraints in America. The Trump administration tried to ban TikTok in 2020, but that attempt was unsuccessful due to a number of court decisions.

Data security requirements have been a topic of discussion between TikTok and the Treasury-led Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States for more than two years.

Asserting that more than $1.5 billion had been spent on rigorous data protection processes, TikTok denied claims of espionage. According to the Wall Street Journal, CFIUS just mandated the sale. A representative for the Treasury declined to comment.

TikTok thinks the best solutions to solve national security problems include open, US-based protection of US user data and systems, as well as effective third-party monitoring, vetting, and verification.

For more than two years, TikTok and CFIUS have been talking about data security measures. TikTok refuted accusations of espionage and said that it has spent more than $1.5 billion on rigorous data protection procedures.

TikTok believes that open, US-based protection of US user data and systems, along with efficient third-party monitoring, vetting, and verification, are the best ways to address national security issues.

Before the revelation of a potential US ban, there have been rumours this week that Britain is moving forward with its own proposal to forbid TikTok on government phones.

Rishi Sunak, the prime minister of the United Kingdom, hinted that he might do the same on Monday when he said that he would take "whatever steps are necessary" to protect Britain's security. Such a ban was announced by the European Commission last month.

The cabinet office may declare a potential ban as soon as this Thursday, according to rumours. The Guardian also reported that some critics and authorities were pleading with Britain to extend the prohibition to cover ministers' and official officials' personal phones.

The discussion of boundaries has lately gained additional traction with the discovery of the Chinese spy balloon above the US. A US congressional committee moved legislation providing the president of the US the power to ban the app in response to the uproar.

TikTok is like a "spy balloon in your phone," according to Republican congressman and committee chair Michael McCaul.

TikTok earlier this month released a data security policy in response to the heightened attention, claiming that it will protect user data across Europe.

Data storage for Project Clover is planned for servers in Ireland and Norway, with any data transfers outside of Europe requiring the approval of a different IT company.