The United States Congress has acted, passing legislation that forces TikTok to part ways with its Chinese ownership. Failure to do so by early next year will see TikTok’s operations end in the U.S. TikTok is still challenging the decision but may have to sell its American operations. However, because the algorithm is considered Chinese technology, selling it to Americans would require special approval from the Chinese government, which is doubtful. The platform and its algorithm will likely be separated.
This would be a good outcome both for users and for our security. Whoever buys the platform will be able to free it from its Chinese components. A bid comes from Project Liberty initiated by American businessman and free internet advocate Frank McCourt. Their People’s Bid for TikTok would introduce a new decentralised algorithm giving users the ultimate control over the content they want to see, turning it from TikTok to ‘FreeTok’. ‘Freetok’ would put each person in control of their own data, and on what content and adverts the algorithm feeds you.
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