A new legal controversy has arisen regarding TikTok in the US

Investors linked to competing companies, such as Meta and Alphabet, allege that the government allowed an agreement with the app that does not comply with the law.

Negocios Now Editorial Staff

A new legal battle has once again placed TikTok at the center of the technological and political debate in the United States. The popular short-video app, used by more than 170 million Americans, now faces a lawsuit challenging the government-approved agreement to reorganize its operations in the country.

The lawsuit was filed in a federal court in Washington by a group of investors linked to competing technology companies, such as Meta Platforms and Alphabet Inc.

The plaintiffs allege that the government allowed an agreement that does not comply with the law passed by Congress in 2024, which required the Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to completely sell TikTok’s U.S. operations or face a possible ban.

The agreement approved in early 2026 created a new joint venture with a majority of U.S. investors to operate TikTok in the country. However, according to critics, ByteDance still maintains key ties to the platform, including control of the algorithm that recommends videos to users, which would continue to be licensed to the new U.S. entity.

The plaintiffs argue that this operational relationship contradicts the law’s objective, which was to eliminate the direct influence of a Chinese company over the app.

The controversy stems from national security concerns that Washington has expressed for years. Lawmakers and officials have warned that access to American users’ data or manipulation of content could pose risks if the company remains linked to its Chinese owner.

TikTok and ByteDance, for their part, have defended the agreement, stating that it includes data protection measures and technological oversight to ensure information security.

The plaintiffs are not seeking to ban the app in the United States, but rather to have the court declare the current agreement illegal and force a renegotiation of the sale of the U.S. operations to ensure full compliance with the law.

The case could have significant consequences for TikTok’s future in the country and for how Washington regulates technology platforms with foreign ties.

The legal dispute adds a new chapter to a long-running saga that intertwines technology, geopolitics, and digital regulation. As the case progresses through the courts, the future of one of the world’s most influential social media platforms remains uncertain.

Read article in Spanish / Leer artículo en español:

https://negociosnow.com/surge-nueva-polemica-legal-relacionada-con-tiktok-en-ee-uu/