Lawmakers in the US are divided over whether to ban or restrict the popular Chinese-owned video-sharing app, TikTok. The app has come under intense scrutiny over fears that the Chinese Communist Party may use it to spy on Americans or spread propaganda. The US government has been warning about TikTok for four years, yet there is little evidence of harm. While Republicans and Democrats both agree on the need to increase security measures for American children, the Democrats remain unconvinced that banning TikTok is the best way forward. The Biden administration is demanding that TikTok's owners sell the app or face an outright ban on all US devices. As the Democrats control the Senate, they will largely decide what happens next to TikTok. Some tech-savvy Democrats are calling for restraint when it comes to a ban and prefer alternative solutions that address the privacy and security risks posed by US-based apps.

Experts have warned that as there is not much separation between companies in China and the country's government, Chinese technology companies could be Trojan horses for the Chinese Communist Party to harvest data on Americans or spew propaganda. However, it is unclear how much of this risk is hypothetical and what the US should do about it. The US government needs to be transparent with the public and provide specific evidence of harm if they choose to ban TikTok. The situation over TikTok highlights the need for comprehensive national privacy and cybersecurity laws that affect companies of any nationality.