US EditionExclusive | TikTok Owner ByteDance’s Valuation Hits US$500 Billion as US Plan Advances
The deal creates a U.S. joint venture to address national security concerns over data access and content control for up to 170 million American users, aiming to avoid a ban.
- On Dec. 18, ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese owner, signed agreements giving majority control of U.S. operations to Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX, potentially keeping TikTok available for 170 million Americans before the Jan. 23, 2026 deadline.
- Security concerns from U.S. intelligence led to 2024 legislation requiring ByteDance to sell its U.S. assets or face a ban, driven by worries the Chinese government could access data or influence content.
- Reporting indicates investors' stake could range from under 50% to 80%, a memo does not specify TikTok's recommendation algorithm ownership, and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said the joint venture would operate independently with Oracle's U.S. cloud for user data.
- But key approvals remain missing: the Chinese government has yet to approve the deal, and the Jan. 22 closing could face hurdles as the Jan. 23, 2026 deadline approaches.
- For users, short-term effects will likely be limited while the joint venture transitions control, but research published last year on TikTok's algorithm shows recommendations often extend beyond known interests.
15 Articles
15 Articles
How TikTok's Algorithm Knows You Better Than You Do
The content recommendation algorithm behind TikTok is under scrutiny after its owner, ByteDance, formed a joint venture with American and global investors, including Oracle, for TikTok’s U. S. operations. This move aims to prevent a U. S. ban and reduce trade tensions between the U. S. and China, but uncertainty remains about who controls the […] The post How TikTok’s Algorithm Knows You Better Than You Do appeared first on Modern Diplomacy.
13:31 The popular video app TikTok has managed to avoid a threatened ban in the United States by reaching a new deal. Despite years of pressure from Washington for strong guarantees, ...
Norbolsa Market Consensus The head of the social network ByteDance signs a binding agreement with global and US investors to cede control of the app in the US, thus avoiding the ban in the US and closing the chapter of uncertainty that started with Trump in 2020. Investors will be Oracle, Solver Laker and Abu Dhabi's MGX. The new entity, named Tik Tok USDS Joint Venture, will assume full control of data protection from [...]
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