Renew MEP Moritz Körner has asked the European Commission whether the US solution for TikTok — a majority US-owned joint venture that averted a ban — implies that US citizens' data is better protected than that of EU citizens. The question, submitted on 15 July 2026, targets the Commission's assessment of the security implications of the deal and whether it exposes a gap in EU data safeguards.
first, for the Commission to evaluate the US joint venture model in terms of security concerns; second, to clarify whether this model offers stronger data protection for US users compared to EU users under current rules. The question does not set numerical targets or deadlines but seeks a policy orientation on how the Commission views the adequacy of EU data protection frameworks relative to third-country arrangements.
Körner's intervention signals concern that the EU may be lagging in ensuring equivalent data security for its citizens, particularly regarding platforms with non-EU ownership. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks; its answer will indicate whether it sees the US model as a benchmark or whether it considers existing EU rules — such as the General Data Protection Regulation — sufficient.
EU citizens could face weaker data protection if the Commission acknowledges the US model as superior, potentially prompting regulatory changes. EU regulators, including the European Data Protection Board, may come under pressure to reassess enforcement. ByteDance and other tech firms with non-EU ownership could face new compliance requirements if the EU moves to mirror the US approach. US authorities, by contrast, may see their model validated, influencing transatlantic data governance discussions.