The news of the investigation and the dismissal of the employees comes amid various attempts to ban TikTok in the United States. Over a dozen states, including Georgia and Texas, have blocked the app on government-owned devices. Earlier this month, a bipartisan bill sought to effectively ban TikTok from US consumer devices, along with other social apps that have ties to China, Russia, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Venezuela. The Senate has also passed a $1.7 trillion spending bill that includes a measure that would ban TikTok on most devices issued by the federal government. There will be exceptions for elected officials, congressional staff, and law enforcement. The House is expected to vote on the omnibus bill on Thursday evening.
