US May Force TikTok to Sell Its American Operations: What Awaits the Social Network?

A number of officials from the US presidential administration have suggested organizing a forced sale of TikTok's American operations, which would prevent China from using the app for espionage and interfering in US politics, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, citing its sources.

US officials have repeatedly expressed concerns that TikTok transfers American user data to the Chinese government, which could use it for its political purposes.

The proposal was made during discussions on the 'TikTok issue' by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). CFIUS has been negotiating with the social network for over two years to localize data and protect it from Chinese authorities.

Change of Ownership the Sole Solution

The Pentagon and the Department of Justice have supported the initiative for a forced sale of TikTok's American segment. Representatives from both departments stated that only a complete isolation of TikTok's American operations would deprive Beijing of access to user data and control over the social network's algorithms. This means that China would not be able to control what content is specifically offered to American users.

The US Department of the Treasury has warned that the order for a change of ownership may be challenged in court. A representative from the department also mentioned that CFIUS could still propose to the White House that the only condition for TikTok's continued operation in the US could be a change of ownership.

TikTok Claims No Data Access for China

The administration of TikTok continues to assert, as it has in the past, that it does not grant Chinese authorities access to user data and never will. However, it was recently revealed that TikTok employees used the app to track American journalists.

Regarding the initiative for a forced sale, TikTok has not commented, but stated that they can address the issues raised by the US government.

Legislation Against TikTok

It should be noted that several Republican state governors in the US have already banned the use of TikTok on devices owned by state agencies. Such restrictions have been implemented in at least seven states, including Maryland, South Dakota, and Utah.

Three American lawmakers have introduced a new bill aimed at banning the operations of the Chinese social network TikTok in the US, as legislators believe that TikTok transfers American user data to the Chinese government.

Republican Senator Marco Rubio stated that the federal government must take a substantive step to protect American users from the threats posed by TikTok. "We can no longer waste time on fruitless negotiations with a puppet company of the Chinese Communist Party. It is time to permanently ban TikTok, which is controlled by Beijing," he said.

This bill is not the only federal law aimed at TikTok. Last year, US legislators proposed a law prohibiting the use of TikTok by federal agencies, while Marco Rubio introduced a bill that would require some app developers to disclose information about their owners. Another bill, introduced this fall, prohibits TikTok from granting access to US user data to employees operating in China.