Germany’s Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer said on Tuesday that TikTok’s European business should be placed “in European hands,” urging the continent to follow the United States’ approach to the platform’s ownership structure.
Weimer made the remarks ahead of a meeting with EU counterparts in Brussels, arguing that Europe should reconsider TikTok’s control by its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
“In my view, we should follow the American example and put the company’s ownership structure up for discussion,” he said, adding that TikTok’s European operations should be brought under European control.
ByteDance had previously ceded control of TikTok’s US operations to a majority American-owned joint venture after facing the threat of a ban in the United States.
Weimer also raised concerns about data security, alleging that TikTok collects large volumes of sensitive information on young users in Europe. “We are talking here about the most intimate data of Europe’s youth,” he said, questioning where the data is stored and how it is used.
TikTok has consistently sought to address European concerns by storing user data within Europe and restricting access to it. However, the platform remains under scrutiny from EU regulators.
The European Union has opened multiple investigations into TikTok under its digital content rules, including concerns over addictive design features and alleged foreign interference in Romania’s presidential election. In February, EU regulators warned the company it could face significant fines if required changes are not implemented.
