The possibility of a TikTok ban or forced sale in the US seems to be escalating after last week’s appearances by CEO Shou Zi Chew before Congress. Republican Chairman Rep. Mike Gallagher and Democratic ranking member Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi both agree that the risks posed by the social media app to the security of personal data and national security warrant such actions. Furthermore, Chu’s remarks failed to allay bipartisan concerns over potential data privacy issues and Chinese government intrusion, which increased the likelihood that Congress will take action.

Gallagher and Krishnamoorthi co-sponsored legislation that would transfer TikTok’s ownership from Chinese parent company ByteDance to an American firm or outright ban the app. However, China considers these proposals overreach and unfair, launching accusations of discrimination since China heavily restricts the use of the internet in its country. Nevertheless, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced that the chamber would be “moving forward with legislation” on TikTok, and the risk of a ban or sale seems to be increasing.

The primary concerns regarding TikTok involve data harvesting, the spread of misinformation, and the safety of minors. Critics argue that the same scrutiny has not applied to similar social media platforms. Advocates for users’ data privacy argue that the government should focus on developing robust privacy and data protection laws rather than banning individual companies.