Congress picked a direct fight with ByteDance and TikTok. The privacy implications are less clear.

U.S. lawmakers passed a law requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok or face a U.S. ban, citing national security risks from potential Chinese access to Americans’ data, while privacy and civil liberties groups argue it is unconstitutional, ineffective without comprehensive privacy reform, and better addressed via CFIUS as in the Grindr case; TikTok plans a court challenge as the policy and legal fight continues.