Without the spy part is obviously fine. But nothing as big as TikTok can exist in China without close political ties, and access.

You are right that data collection, even from US based companies is out of control. I haven’t used Facebook in years partly for that reason. I’d love to have a Roomba to clean for me but I don’t want it to send pictures of me pooping to Jeff Bezos. I still wouldn’t use TikTok even if it was US based.