TikTok must divest itself of Chinese ownership or face ban, FCC commissioner tells Australian inquiry

Company accused of ‘gaslighting’ public on surveillance concerns during Senate inquiry into foreign influence through social media

TikTok will either need to divest itself from Chinese ownership or face a ban in the United States, according to the commissioner of the US federal communications commission, Brendan Carr, who accused the company of “gaslighting” the public on surveillance concerns.

Appearing before the Australian Senate inquiry into foreign influence through social media, the Trump appointee said concern about TikTok in the US was “broad and deep”, and crossed party lines.