German Minister Wolfram Weimer Calls for EU Ownership of TikTok

German State Minister for Culture Wolfram Weimer is urging that the video‑sharing platform TikTok be transferred to European ownership. He argues that the current Chinese‑owned structure creates uncertainty about where personal data of European youth is processed and whether Chinese authorities could access it. Weimer proposes creating a distinct European entity to run TikTok, believing this is the most effective way to enforce EU media, data‑privacy and child‑protection rules.

In addition, Weimer wants to introduce a digital platform levy on large online services, arguing that they profit from journalistic content and should financially support the media sector. The minister hopes both measures can be enacted before the end of the year. TikTok, which has over 200 million users in Europe, maintains its European headquarters in Ireland and says user data are stored primarily in Norway and Ireland.

The proposal is part of a broader European debate on regulating big tech, data security and funding for journalism.