"TikTok's Battle Against Potential U.S. Ban Gains Momentum in Congress"

TikTok has increased its ad spend to over $4.5 million in an effort to combat a potential U.S. ban, as Congress moves to fast-track legislation requiring parent company ByteDance to divest the app. The House bill, tied to aid for Ukraine and Israel, would give ByteDance nine months to divest TikTok or face a U.S. ban, with President Biden indicating he would sign it into law. Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell has endorsed the bill, and TikTok's increased ad spend targets key battleground states represented by vulnerable Senate Democrats. The company's ads aim to influence the debate over protecting U.S. TikTok users' data from China's government.