Part 11/12:
Lawmakers and officials have long feared that TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, could be used to manipulate data or influence public opinion. The app’s extensive data collection capabilities, coupled with China’s national security laws, pose potential risks of data sharing with the Chinese Communist Party.
Congress previously mandated divestment and threatened bans, but delays and extensions have complicated enforcement. Now, the agreement aims to balance security with economic interests, although many details—including who will own TikTok’s US operations—are yet to be finalized.