Normally how this works is that national laws dictate what an app can do when operating in the nation's territory, and it's then up to the app owner to decide whether they want to do business in that nation's territory or not.

This is how EU rules apply to US tech companies. US rules for Chinese tech companies is no different in principle.

IMO however the problem isn't privacy, it's being able to stick a thumb on the algorithmic feed and control the information consumption of a slice of society. And TikTok isn't the only problem, it's broadly applicable across consumer tech.

If they operate in the US, they certainly are.

> If they operate in the US, they certainly are.

Theoretically, yes. But the US isn't a police state where their activities would be constantly monitored in great detail for compliance. There's a lot they could do under the radar, and a lot of groundwork they could lay for some future inappropriate action.

If it wants to operate in the US, yes it does. For the same reason that US companies are complying with EU GDPR/DMA laws.