US Takes the Reins: TikTok’s Algorithm Goes American!

The White House has announced a new plan for TikTok, the popular video-sharing app owned by China's ByteDance. Under this plan, US companies will take control of TikTok's algorithm, which is the technology that decides what videos users see. Additionally, Americans will hold six out of seven seats on the board that oversees TikTok's US operations. This move is part of a deal that the US government hopes to sign soon, although China has not yet commented on the agreement. The US has been concerned about national security risks related to TikTok, especially because the app collects data from millions of American users.

Previously, TikTok was told it had to sell its US operations or face being banned in the country. President Donald Trump has delayed the ban several times since it was first announced in January, and the deadline has now been extended to December. According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the deal will put data and privacy in the hands of Oracle, a major American tech company led by Larry Ellison, who is known for his wealth and his support of Trump. Leavitt explained that Oracle will manage both the data and the algorithm, ensuring that these important parts of TikTok are controlled by Americans. She said that most of the details have already been agreed upon, and now they are just waiting for the deal to be signed.

Larry Ellison's son, David Ellison, recently bought Paramount, a media company that owns CBS News, making the Ellison family very influential in the media industry. President Trump spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping about TikTok's future in the US, but there has been no official response from China. Trump described the conversation as productive and said he appreciated Xi's approval of the deal, which would allow US investors to buy TikTok's US business. China's Commerce Ministry released a statement saying it respects the wishes of the company and supports negotiations that follow market rules and Chinese laws. However, the statement did not make it clear whether China fully supports the deal. One major issue in the negotiations has been who will own TikTok's powerful algorithm, which helps deliver content to its 170 million American users. President Trump, who once called for TikTok to be banned, has since used the app to connect with young voters during his 2024 campaign. Earlier this year, the US Supreme Court upheld a law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok's US operations or face a ban. The app was briefly unavailable before the ban was delayed. The US Department of Justice has warned that TikTok's access to American user data could pose a serious national security threat.