Frank McCourt, the billionaire owner of the French football club Olympique de Marseille, announced on March 3, 2025, the addition of Alexis Ohanian as strategic advisor to his initiative to acquire TikTok's U.S. operations. Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit, brings significant experience to the Project Liberty bid aimed at giving users greater control over their personal data.
The initiative, branded as "The People’s Bid", seeks to utilize advanced technology to allow users to regulate how their data is managed. Ohanian, known for his pivotal role at Reddit and his investments in various tech companies such as Instacart and OpenSea, is expected to leverage his expertise in social media to promote the proposal effectively.
McCourt highlighted Ohanian’s vast experience, stating, “He possesses a broad portfolio of experience… of the current state of social media and, I think, has a deep analysis of its evolution.” Ohanian will help validate the initiative and amplify its outreach to both technologists and non-technologists, stating his excitement to work on enhancing data control for users.
The urgency for this sale arises from rising regulatory pressures on ByteDance, TikTok's parent company. The U.S. government has mandated ByteDance to find an American buyer or face potential bans, with President Donald Trump having previously ordered TikTok to temporarily cease operations on January 19, 2025. Following public backlash and political dialogue, he granted ByteDance 75 additional days to secure a deal, designatively placing Vice President JD Vance at the helm of the sale process.
McCourt's competitive bid is not the only one on the table; others include teams led by tech investor Jesse Tinsley and internet personality MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, alongside Wyoming entrepreneur Reid Rasner. The intense competition highlights the ambition surrounding one of the world's leading social media platforms.
While McCourt submitted his bid to Washington D.C. at the beginning of January—including detailed financial and technological plans—the engagement from ByteDance has been minimal. McCourt stated, “ByteDance remains surprisingly disengaged, perhaps to the extent of shutting down TikTok entirely rather than proceeding under pressure to sell.”
Critics point out the necessity for transparency within the data management field, underscoring how users' comprehension of TikTok’s data policies can vary widely. McCourt expressed the importance of addressing these disparities, mentioning, “The technology's reliability is analyzed by digital specialists, whereas tech-averse users, significantly affected by these issues, often lack awareness of the nuances.”
The overarching theme of the Project Liberty bid is not merely to purchase TikTok but to redefine how user data is handled across digital platforms. McCourt emphasized, “This is not just about acquiring TikTok; it’s about building where data isn’t treated as a hidden commodity but as property controlled by users themselves.”
Ohanian's involvement is seen as pivotal, considering his history with Reddit, where he returned as executive chairman to revitalize the platform following its acquisition by Condé Nast earlier. By merging financial backing with innovative perspectives, McCourt aims not only to rescue TikTok's operations but also to reshape user interaction with data on social media.
Yet, the sale is set against the backdrop of shifting political climates and regulatory scrutiny, as evidenced by Trump’s administration initially applying pressure on ByteDance for immediate divestments. How McCourt and his team navigate this complex terrain remains to be seen, as prospective bidders explore the potential of TikTok’s vast user base amid concerns over data privacy and national security.
Despite facing competitors, McCourt expresses optimism about his chances. The engagement of public figures and experienced investors hints at the serious stakes at play surrounding TikTok’s future, influencing the digital ecosystem and privacy practices for millions of users worldwide. The coming weeks are likely to be telling, as the deadline approaches for ByteDance to either ink a deal or face extraordinary repercussions, with the fate of TikTok hanging precariously in the balance.
McCourt's bid reflects not just the strategic acquisition of technology but the invocation of fundamental rights for users—an effort aimed at transparency and empowerment for the digital citizen. The discourse surrounding these developments will likely continue to shape the evolution of social networks and their user data practices moving forward.