US Senators who attended a secret briefing about the alleged TikTok ban told Axios that China's government could spy on Americans and spread propaganda through the popular social media app, according to Axios.

The senators didn't provide many details about the briefing held on Wednesday but emphasized that Americans should be concerned about TikTok's access to their personal information.

One of the US senators said security officials explained how China could gather user data and use it for propaganda and false information.

Another lawmaker mentioned that they were informed TikTok could listen in on users' microphones, track their typing, and monitor their activities on other apps.

Senate leaders are considering what to do with a proposed bill that would require the Chinese company ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a ban in the United States.

The House approved the bill with strong support last week after its members received a similar briefing on security concerns.

TikTok Bans Threaten Educational Content, Say Influencers and Experts

In December 2020, a rural Southern public school teacher known as "Ms. James" found success in teaching grammar on TikTok amid the pandemic. Rapidly gaining followers, she now has 5.8 million.

However, discussions of a TikTok ban threaten her educational content. Ms. James worries about its impact on providing quality education, particularly for ESL and homeschooled students, Reuters noted.

She sees her work on TikTok as a global educational aid. Content creator Naomi Hearts, with 1.1 million followers, shares her concerns.

USC professor Karen North warns of TikTok's data risks, such as facial recognition and location tracking, which she believes outweigh its benefits, especially in academia.

Dr. Anthony Youn, a plastic surgeon with 8.4 million followers, emphasizes TikTok's educational role and fears a ban would hinder information accessibility.

Both Dr. Youn and Naomi Hearts doubt the ban's motive, viewing it as a way to curb informative content rather than safeguard data, noting other apps also collect personal information.

Senate Clarifies: TikTok Legislation Not a Ban, But Ownership Transition

Senate supporters of legislation aimed to clarify one thing: it's not a TikTok ban. Senator Richard Blumenthal stressed that they're talking about a change in ownership, not shutting down TikTok altogether, Slate reports.

This comes after a classified briefing on the app's security risks, as it's owned by China-based ByteDance.

The House recently passed a bill giving ByteDance around six months to sell TikTok or face a ban.

While the House vote was decisive, the Senate isn't rushing. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer only said they'll review the bill.

There's no set plan yet. US Senators see this as an opportunity to refine the bill and put their stamp on it.

Meanwhile, TikTok is lobbying hard. Senate supporters are keen to stress it's not about banning TikTok, which is hugely popular among American youth.

They don't want to be seen as taking away a beloved pastime.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Senators in both parties signal potential support for bill that could ban TikTok - From NBC News