TikTok, owned by ByteDance (a Chinese-headquartered company), has been the subject of US government concern since at least 2019. CFIUS and congressional investigations have documented real data-collection concerns. Studies have found algorithmic differences in how sensitive political topics (Xinjiang, Tibet, Tiananmen Square) are surfaced on TikTok compared to competitor platforms. Whether these differences represent coordinated CCP propaganda operations or organic content-policy choices remains contested. The ban-and-reversal cycle through 2024-2025 reflects genuine unresolved institutional uncertainty.