U.S. Secures Control Over TikTok’s Algorithm in China Deal
BREAKING: The White House has just confirmed a pivotal deal regarding TikTok that will place control of the app’s algorithm in the hands of U.S. companies. This announcement comes amid ongoing tensions between the United States and China, as authorities aim to secure American oversight of the popular social media platform.
UPDATE: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed that U.S. investors will hold a majority of seats—six out of seven—on the board managing TikTok’s U.S. operations. This development is critical as Congress has previously passed legislation set to impose a TikTok ban starting in January 2024, unless a satisfactory arrangement is reached.
Officials state that tech giant Oracle will be responsible for managing TikTok’s data security, ensuring that the algorithm will be exclusively American-controlled. Leavitt expressed confidence during an interview on Fox News, stating, “We are 100% confident that a deal is done; now that deal just needs to be signed.”
This announcement follows a significant phone conversation between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where they discussed the terms of the deal. Trump noted that American investors are ready and emphasized that Xi has been cooperative, referring to him as “a gentleman” in these negotiations.
While Trump remained vague about the specifics of the algorithm’s control, he assured that “it’s all being worked out” and pledged that the U.S. would have “very good control.” The Chinese government’s response has yet to clarify Xi’s position on the sale of a controlling stake in TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, which is crucial to averting a U.S. ban.
Leavitt’s statements indicate that a finalized agreement is imminent, suggesting that, “Now we just need this deal to be signed,” and expressed anticipation that it would happen in the coming days.
As the situation develops, this deal has significant implications not only for TikTok’s operations but also for U.S.-China relations and the ongoing debate over data privacy and security in the digital age. Stay tuned as we follow this urgent story and provide updates on its unfolding impact.
