"TikTok’s U.S. ownership talks continue

Photo by Nahi Khabar 24/7 – via Personal Collection

TikTok, the popular short-video app, is once again at the center of global attention as talks over its ownership in the United States enter a critical stage. Amid rising national security concerns, a new ownership framework has been outlined, though many questions remain unanswered.

Under the proposed arrangement, a consortium of American investors — including Oracle, Silver Lake, and Andreessen Horowitz — would take control of nearly 80 percent stake in TikTok’s U.S. operations. Chinese parent company ByteDance is expected to retain a minority share of about 19.9 percent. Oracle would also be responsible for hosting U.S. user data on domestic servers to address Washington’s long-standing privacy and security concerns.

While the deal aims to strike a balance between security and business continuity, critics argue that it does not go far enough. Lawmakers in the U.S. have insisted that the company’s core algorithm, often described as TikTok’s “brain,” must also come under American oversight — something Beijing has strongly resisted.

In China, officials have signaled they would not allow a forced sale of TikTok’s core technology, while in Washington, pressure from both parties continues to mount on President Biden’s administration to ensure national security safeguards.

Analysts suggest that the controversy highlights not only the geopolitical rivalry between the U.S. and China but also the growing importance of controlling global digital platforms. For TikTok’s 170 million users in America, the ongoing debate leaves them uncertain but hopeful that the app will continue operating without disruption.

The final decision on ownership is still pending, and observers expect further negotiations before a legally binding agreement is signed. Until then, TikTok remains caught between two superpowers — and at the center of the world’s digital politics.