TikTok a casualty of deepening US mistrust of China

WASHINGTON - The United States' move to ban or otherwise cut off the popular Chinese-owned social media app TikTok is part of a concerted effort to cut linkages with China that can be exploited to gather Americans' data - or have any kind of influence in American society.

The theory is that because TikTok is subject to Chinese law, the company can be compelled by the Chinese government to provide access to user data. There is also separate concern over whether TikTok employs content-moderation policies and practices that serve the preferences of the Communist Party of China.