TikTok, the famous short-video app loved by millions of teenagers, is once again in the middle of a political storm. This time, the issue isn’t just about who owns it, but who controls the powerful technology behind it — its algorithm. The algorithm is what decides which videos you see on your “For You” page and keeps people scrolling for hours. But now, this very algorithm has become a major topic of concern for US lawmakers.

On Thursday, Representative John Moolenaar, a Republican and the chair of the House Select Committee on China, said that a new licensing deal for TikTok’s algorithm could raise “serious concerns.” He explained that if China still has any control or influence over the algorithm, even indirectly, it could be a problem for US national security. Moolenaar is currently waiting for a full briefing to understand all the details of the proposed deal. He spoke about the issue during an event at the Hudson Institute, a public policy think tank based in Washington.

“I think anytime you have (China) with leverage over the algorithm, I think that’s a problem,” Moolenaar said clearly. His words highlight a growing fear among American officials — that even if TikTok’s US business is sold, China could still have ways to influence what American users see on the app.

TikTok is owned by ByteDance Ltd, a company based in China. The app has become incredibly popular in the United States, with over 170 million users. But this popularity has also drawn political attention. Many US officials worry that the Chinese government could use TikTok to collect data on American users or spread information that could influence public opinion.

To deal with these worries, President Donald Trump took a firm step. On September 25, he signed an executive order approving a plan for ByteDance to sell TikTok’s US operations to a group of American and international investors. According to Trump, the plan meets all national security requirements laid out in a 2024 law. The new owners have 120 days to complete the deal.

However, one detail of this agreement is what caused the latest round of debate — the licensing of TikTok’s algorithm. This means that while the app’s US business will be sold, the technology that powers its recommendations will still be licensed from ByteDance. To some US officials, that sounds like China might still have a say in how TikTok works.

Moolenaar said he believes the only real solution is to create a completely new algorithm. “I just believe you have to have a new algorithm, and I don’t know that you can reprogram,” he explained. He also pointed out that many experts don’t even know exactly how the current TikTok algorithm works, as its details are kept secret by ByteDance. “I would say it’s still very much a work in progress,” he added.

Last month, Trump postponed the enforcement of the law that bans TikTok in the US. Originally, the app would have been banned unless ByteDance sold it. Now, the enforcement has been delayed until January 20. This gives ByteDance and the investors more time to finalize the sale and satisfy national security concerns.

In Trump’s new order, there are also specific rules about how the algorithm will be managed. It says that the algorithm will be retrained and monitored by the US company’s security partners. The operation of the algorithm will remain under the control of a new joint venture — the American-led team that will run TikTok’s US version. This part of the plan is meant to assure the US government that China will have no control over what American users see.

Even so, the structure of the new deal still includes some Chinese involvement. Under the agreement, ByteDance will be allowed to appoint one of the seven members of the new company’s board. The remaining six members will be Americans. ByteDance will also keep less than 20% ownership in TikTok’s US business to comply with the 2024 law. That law stated that if ByteDance did not sell its US assets by January 2025, TikTok would be shut down in the country.

For now, TikTok has not commented publicly on these recent developments. The company has often said that it does not share user data with the Chinese government and that it works hard to protect users’ privacy. Still, lawmakers like Moolenaar remain skeptical. They argue that as long as ByteDance or any Chinese entity has any influence over the algorithm, there could be risks.

The algorithm is not just any piece of technology. It is the heart of TikTok. It decides what kind of videos go viral, how creators gain followers, and what users see first. Some experts say that whoever controls the algorithm controls the flow of information — and that makes it very powerful. If China has even a small amount of control, that could mean influence over what millions of Americans see every day.

This ongoing debate about TikTok shows how deeply technology and politics are connected today. Apps that seem fun and harmless can also raise big questions about data safety, privacy, and even national security. The situation has also created a difficult challenge for the US government — how to balance people’s freedom to use popular apps with the country’s need to protect itself from potential threats.

Many young users, who make up a large part of TikTok’s audience, are confused and worried about what all this means. Some fear that their favorite app might disappear. Others are angry that politics might take away something they enjoy. Meanwhile, lawmakers insist that protecting national security must come first, even if it means losing a popular social media platform.

As Moolenaar and other officials wait for more details, one thing is clear — the future of TikTok in the United States is still uncertain. The next few months will decide whether the app continues to operate smoothly under new American ownership or faces more restrictions.

For now, both technology experts and lawmakers are watching closely. They know that whatever happens with TikTok could set an example for how the US deals with other foreign-owned tech companies in the future. In a world where data is as valuable as oil, who controls it — and how — has become one of the most important questions of our time.