Your TikTok Data Is a Weapon

ARTE just dropped a two-part documentary that might make you rethink every scroll, swipe, and like you've ever given TikTok. The series exposes how the world's most addictive app became the frontline of a digital cold war between the US and China.
 

"TikTok: Under the Influence" - directed by Vincent de Cointet and first aired in April 2025 - traces how a video-sharing app built for dance challenges quietly became one of the most powerful surveillance and influence tools on the planet.

With 1.7 billion users worldwide, the stakes go far beyond viral trends.

From Startup to State Tool

The story begins in 2012, when Chinese engineer Zhang Yiming founded ByteDance during a period of economic openness.

His company would go on to create Douyin for the Chinese market and its international twin, TikTok, powered by the same algorithm.

But ARTE's investigation reveals the turning point most users never heard about.

The Chinese Communist Party systematically took control of ByteDance and other tech companies, requiring them to hand over data and applications.

The documentary argues this gave Beijing a dual advantage - domestic surveillance and a direct challenge to American digital dominance.

The Algorithm That Reads Your Mind

The most unsettling part of the documentary focuses on TikTok's recommendation engine. Through interviews with cognitive science researchers and former content moderators, the series shows how the algorithm doesn't just serve content you like - it shapes what you think.

From amplifying specific narratives to quietly suppressing others, TikTok's algorithm operates as what experts in the film describe as an extension of Chinese soft power.

If you've ever wondered why certain topics trend while others vanish, this documentary offers some uncomfortable answers.

Why This Matters for Your Privacy

The documentary highlights how personal data collected through social media apps can be weaponized for geopolitical purposes.

If you're concerned about your digital footprint, consider using privacy-focused tools like Brave Browser for everyday browsing, or Tor Browser for situations requiring maximum anonymity.

Regularly clearing your digital traces with Privacy Eraser Free is another practical step toward protecting your data.

The US-China Showdown

The second episode dives into Washington's response. The Huawei affair kicked off the tech decoupling between the two superpowers, and TikTok quickly landed in the crosshairs.

In April 2024, Congress passed a near-unanimous law forcing ByteDance to sell TikTok's US operations or face a ban.

Then came the twist. After his re-election, Donald Trump reversed course and granted ByteDance a 75-day reprieve - a move the documentary frames as part of a larger pattern of contradictory Western responses to Chinese tech influence.

How to Watch

The full documentary is available to stream on ARTE's website, free of charge (available until 10/03/2026). Each episode runs approximately 53 minutes.

For offline viewing, tools like 4K Video Downloader let you save web videos for later. And if you prefer a player that handles virtually any format without codec headaches, VLC Media Player remains the gold standard.

Whether you're a daily TikTok user or someone who's never downloaded the app, this documentary raises questions about data, power, and influence that affect everyone with a smartphone.