TikTok’s future in the U.S. is back in question after lawmakers advanced a bill that could force parent company ByteDance to sell the app or face a national ban. This comes despite TikTok’s $1.5 billion effort to address security concerns through an agreement known as Project Texas, which partners with Oracle to store U.S. user data domestically.

Lawmakers are questioning Oracle’s security

Project Texas was supposed to solve the issue surrounding the looming ban on the app. TikTok claimed that U.S. data is stored on Oracle’s servers in Texas, with Oracle auditing the code and monitoring access. The idea was to separate U.S. operations from Chinese influence. However, according to reports from The Verge and Fortune, lawmakers are questioning whether Oracle’s oversight is enough to protect Americans’ data from potential Chinese government influence.

Lawmakers on both sides argue that the Oracle deal feels more like window dressing than real security. The House voted overwhelmingly to move forward with a bill that could force TikTok into a sale within six months. If ByteDance doesn’t comply, TikTok would face a full ban in the U.S.

Lawmakers also point out that the Oracle arrangement doesn’t address who ultimately controls TikTok’s decision-making. Oracle can store data and review code, but it doesn’t own TikTok or control its corporate strategy. That’s why the House’s proposed bill pushes for a full sale, not just more monitoring.

Uncertainty for creators looms again

For creators, this brings uncertainty. Even though TikTok reported that more than 150 million Americans use the app, the threat of losing access looms large. Many full-time creators have already started spreading their content across other platforms like YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels and Snapchat Spotlight to hedge against these risks.

While TikTok and Oracle are still pitching Project Texas as the solution, lawmakers aren’t biting. Whether that means a ban or a forced sale, creators need to stay ready for a future where TikTok may no longer be an option.

Image courtesy: Oracle