The internet is broken. That’s the blunt diagnosis from billionaire entrepreneur Frank McCourt, who’s placing a multibillion-dollar bet to fix it. But unlike Silicon Valley giants that have defined our digital age, McCourt isn’t planning another centralized tech empire built on targeted advertising. Instead, he’s looking at TikTok’s U.S. operations — the American branch of the popular social media app caught at the center of escalating tensions between the U.S. and China — as a surprising launchpad to reshape the core of our online lives.
After multiple attempts to ban or regulate the app due to national security concerns, Congress passed the “Divest or Ban” law late last year. The law mandates ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to sell its U.S. operations — used by 170 million Americans — or face a complete shutdown.
Initially given until Jan. 19, 2025 to comply, President Trump issued an executive order granting a 75-day extension, moving the deadline to April 5. And it’s amid this turbulent environment, that McCourt sees an unprecedented opportunity.
One significant aspect of McCourt’s bid is that ByteDance’s proprietary recommendation algorithm — a key technology behind TikTok’s explosive growth — won’t be included in any sale. ByteDance has explicitly stated that this algorithm represents protected intellectual property, and its transfer is restricted by Chinese government regulations. While other potential buyers might view this as a major drawback however, McCourt frames it as a crucial opportunity for change.
“Removing ByteDance’s algorithm isn’t a limitation — it’s freedom,” McCourt states. “Imagine a TikTok where you choose exactly how you experience content, instead of an algorithm secretly deciding for you.”
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