US to Control TikTok Algorithm and Board in Deal with China

A significant agreement has been reached with China, placing TikTok's algorithm and board of directors under American control. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that this accord will ensure TikTok's U.S. operations are "controlled by America," addressing national security concerns while maintaining platform availability for users. Under the terms of the deal, Americans will occupy six of the seven seats on the board overseeing TikTok's U.S. operations. Forbes reports indicate these American board members will also be tasked with supervising the platform's algorithm. Leavitt further stated that cloud computing firm Oracle will manage TikTok's "data and privacy." This arrangement aligns with prior reports suggesting Oracle would handle U.S. user data from its Texas facilities as part of an investing consortium. This confirmation from the White House follows a period of ambiguity, as China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs had not explicitly acknowledged an agreement. Leavitt indicated that the final deal is anticipated to be signed "in the coming days." This resolution emerges after prolonged opposition from ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, which had previously argued that separating its algorithm was not feasible. Although specific details of the agreement remain undisclosed, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer characterized the terms as "fair for the Chinese" and fully respectful of U.S. national security interests. His Chinese counterpart confirmed that both nations have agreed upon a "framework" to resolve these issues through collaborative efforts.