Billionaire Frank McCourt, former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, is spearheading a consortium to acquire popular social media app TikTok. However, McCourt's intentions go beyond a simple acquisition, as he aims to transform the platform into a more open, inclusive, and responsible space on the internet.

McCourt's project, known as Project Liberty, plans to restructure the TikTok platform and prioritize putting users in control of their own data. In a statement, McCourt emphasized the need to address the current flaws in digital infrastructure and ensure the protection of children, families, democracy, and society.

Renowned figures such as Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web, have expressed support for McCourt's proposal. Berners-Lee believes that the internet should empower individuals, allowing them to control and share their data as they see fit.

Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, author of "The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness," also stands behind the initiative. Haidt sees this as a significant opportunity to create an alternative to the current internet landscape, which has become dominated by large platforms like TikTok.

McCourt envisions the deal as a chance for users to control their own identities and data, aiming to give creators more control over their content on the platform. The project will collaborate with leading academics, technologists, behavioral scientists, psychologists, and economic experts, along with community partners, parents, and citizens.

However, there are potential roadblocks ahead. Under a law signed by President Biden, TikTok will be banned in the US unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sells the platform. While China is unlikely to permit the sale of TikTok's highly valued video recommendation algorithm, McCourt views this as an opportunity for his consortium. He explains that their vision for a revamped TikTok is based on a different internet architecture that does not rely on the algorithm.

McCourt's ambitious plan marks a significant turning point for TikTok if successful. By prioritizing user control of data and reshaping the platform, McCourt and his consortium hope to create a more responsible and empowering digital environment. The future of TikTok hangs in the balance as negotiations continue, ultimately determining whether McCourt's vision becomes a reality.