A more thorough analysis will take the place of the blanket ban.

While the popular video-based social media app TikTok has not seen any interruption to its service, said service was repeatedly challenged by former US President Donald Trump during his last stretch in office. Concerns with foreign powers collecting data from American citizens prompted the Trump Administration to issue blanket bans on western business dealings with TikTok and WeChat, as well as banning the use of TikTok in the US entirely, though that bill was tied up in court. Fast forward to now, President Joe Biden has overturned these three bans, leaving TikTok and WeChat to conduct their business in peace. However, that is not the end of things.

While the bans have been overturned, there are still real concerns about China collecting US data through apps like TikTok. As such, Biden has ordered the US Department of Commerce to conduct an in-depth analysis and investigation of all apps with connections to foreign powers, including TikTok. The analysis will monitor these apps’ data collecting policies and procedures, as well as how transactions are conducted on them. The investigation team will be providing a list of recommendations on how to prevent US citizen health and personal data from being obtained by risky apps. Apps managed by those with known connections to governmental or military powers will be under increased scrutiny, marked as a “heightened risk.”

While the investigation is running, TikTok will be permitted to carry on its business as normal, pending any sudden changes or discoveries. As of writing, Tencent, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, has not publicly responded to these events.