TikTok has finalized a deal that guarantees the app will continue operating in the United States. The company announced the agreement on Thursday, ending years of political and legal uncertainty.
The move resolves a long-running dispute between Washington and Beijing. The conflict began during Donald Trump’s first presidency, when he tried to ban TikTok over national security concerns.
US law threatened to block the app in January 2025 unless ByteDance sold its American operations. Trump delayed enforcement multiple times after returning to office.
The central issue focused on TikTok’s recommendation algorithm. Under the agreement, American owners now license the system, which will train exclusively on US user data.
Experts expect noticeable changes to the app, but the full impact on roughly 200 million American users remains unclear.
Political pressure drives separation
US officials pressured TikTok for years to split from ByteDance. Lawmakers warned that Chinese ownership could put American user data at risk.
They argued Beijing could force the company to hand over US user information. TikTok and ByteDance consistently rejected these claims.
Trump first suggested banning TikTok in 2020. Support for the idea grew under President Joe Biden. In 2024, Biden signed legislation requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a nationwide ban.
ByteDance challenged the law in court. In January last year, TikTok temporarily went offline in the United States for 12 to 14 hours.
Service resumed after Trump, then president-elect, promised to reverse the ban. Later, he said he had reached an understanding with China to keep TikTok active.
In December, TikTok signed binding agreements with American and international investors. CEO Shou Zi Chew confirmed the deal in an internal memo.
Structure of the US joint venture
The agreement establishes TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC. The company will protect apps, algorithms, and user data under strict cybersecurity measures.
The joint venture will operate independently, overseen by a seven-member board with an American majority. Adam Presser, formerly of WarnerMedia, now serves as chief executive.
Three managing investors each hold 15% of the US business. Oracle will secure American user data and supervise retraining of the recommendation algorithm.
Oracle is chaired by Larry Ellison, a major Republican donor and Trump ally. Silver Lake, a US technology investment firm managing about $116bn in assets, also participates. MGX, an Emirati investor focused on AI and technology, completes the group.
Ownership and leadership
ByteDance retains a 19.9% stake in the venture. Investors hold the remaining 35.1%, including Michael Dell’s family office and Vastmere Strategic Investments, an affiliate of Susquehanna International Group.
Jeff Yass, co-founder of Susquehanna and a Trump ally, held roughly 7% of ByteDance last year. Susquehanna managing director Mark Dooley will join the board.
Shou Zi Chew and executives from Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX will also serve on the board.
Algorithm remains central to the deal
TikTok’s algorithm is the core of the US agreement. Experts call it the platform’s most valuable asset.
A former social media executive said competitors could not replicate its success. Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts never matched its performance. Early innovators, he added, usually understand their technology best.
ByteDance initially refused to release the algorithm. Chinese authorities supported that position. In September, China’s cybersecurity regulator indicated it could allow ByteDance to license the system to American owners.
Under the agreement, the algorithm will train only on US user data, which must comply with American regulations. TikTok said Oracle will secure the system in its US cloud infrastructure.
Experts warn US users may notice a lighter, possibly slower app. Recommendations may also become less precise than in the global version.
