A significant development has emerged regarding TikTok's operations in the United States. A deal to bring TikTok's U.S. platform under American ownership has been finalized and is expected to be signed shortly. This announcement was made by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Saturday, highlighting the domestic control of the app's valuable algorithm as a key component of the agreement.
The implications of this deal are considerable. While the White House indicated on Friday that an agreement was in place, Chinese officials have presented mixed messages, leaving the app's future somewhat uncertain. Last year, Congress passed a ban on TikTok with bipartisan support, yet former President Trump had previously instructed his administration to refrain from enforcing this law while pursuing negotiations.
Leavitt expressed confidence in the completion of the deal, stating, “We are 100% confident that a deal is done. Now that the deal just needs to be signed, the president's team is working with their Chinese counterparts to do just that.” She added that the signing is anticipated within the coming days. According to Leavitt, the U.S. version of the app will be majority owned by Americans and governed by a seven-member board composed primarily of Americans, with six of the members being U.S. citizens. Furthermore, she emphasized that the algorithm will also remain under American control.
While the specifics regarding the ownership group remain somewhat unclear, Leavitt confirmed that Oracle would handle the app's data and security. Reports have suggested that U.S. users may need to transition to a newly developed app, which would utilize a new version of the existing algorithm created by TikTok's engineers. This algorithm is crucial to TikTok's success and has been a central point of contention during negotiations.
As this deal approaches finalization, key questions remain regarding the participants involved and the potential impact on the U.S. user experience. The tech community and users alike will be watching closely to see how this transition unfolds and what it means for one of the world’s most popular social media platforms.
