ByteDance, the parent company of the social media app TikTok, recently completed a significant transaction that included American technology firm Oracle as a key partner. This deal was a response to bipartisan demands that the Chinese-owned company either divest TikTok's U.S. operations or face a nationwide ban.
The arrangement has triggered a backlash among American TikTok users, who are voicing concerns over potential censorship and data privacy. Reports from various media sources indicate that users have encountered difficulties when posting content related to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and searching for specific terms on the platform, such as "Epstein."
TikTok has countered these claims, attributing any content or search issues to a data center power outage. Simultaneously, the social media giant has updated its privacy policy, notably expanding its ability to collect more extensive information about its users, including their precise geographic locations.
The policy change has ignited fresh concerns regarding data privacy and the potential for federal agencies like ICE to exploit user information. According to The New Republic, there is speculation that ICE agents could circumvent the usual court-ordered data requests by purchasing user data from private brokers who acquire it from TikTok.
This scenario, as suggested by the magazine, is seen as "highly ironic" because the initial concerns requiring ByteDance to divest from TikTok were rooted in fears of Chinese government surveillance. The Mobile Advertising IDs, which transmit exact GPS coordinates to data brokers, could potentially provide the Department of Homeland Security with sensitive information.
The New Republic also points out the potential for ICE to use such data in constructing "confidence scores" for individuals, which could lead to the categorization of protesters and legal observers as "domestic terrorists." These concerns are not unfounded, as Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, a known associate of President Donald Trump, has previously discussed the use of artificial intelligence in mass surveillance, suggesting that such technology could ensure "citizens are on their best behavior."
ICE's current use of sophisticated tracking technology, including an application called ELITE developed by Palantir, further compounds these fears. This software aids ICE agents in preparing for neighborhood enforcement operations by providing critical information prior to planned raids.
The New Republic highlights a hypothetical situation where TikTok's data could provide the last piece of information ICE needs to execute a raid. However, when approached for comment, TikTok neither confirmed nor denied whether U.S. immigration authorities have accessed user data.
The controversy has prompted a significant reaction on social media, with users urging others to delete the app. The situation comes amid a reported increase in attacks against federal immigration officers during President Trump's second term. Data from the Department of Homeland Security indicates a spike in vehicle assaults targeting ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel.
Between January 2025 and January 2026, there have been over 180 documented incidents where vehicles were used as weapons against federal law enforcement officers during operations. This marks a steep increase from previous years and reflects a broader trend of hostility toward federal agents.
