TikTok creators stage protest outside Congress

STORY: Pressure is mounting from lawmakers and national security hawks to ban TikTok, which is owned by China's ByteDance, over fears the app could censure content, influence users, and pass Americans' personal data to Beijing, allegations the company denies.

Some protesters held up signs saying TikTok benefits small businesses. Others talked of how the app had helped them build a community around their enterprises - including selling cards and baking cakes. According to TikTok, 5 million businesses use the app.

Courts blocked a prior bid by the Trump administration to ban the app in part on the grounds that such a move violated free speech protections.