TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, has signed binding agreements with US and international investors to restructure the app’s operations in the United States, a move aimed at preventing a nationwide ban.
In a memo to staff, TikTok chief executive Shou Zi Chew said the deal would establish a new joint venture to run the platform’s US business. The agreement is expected to close on 22 January and would resolve long-standing concerns in Washington over national security and data protection.
Under the arrangement, a consortium of investors including Oracle, Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi-based investment firm MGX will collectively own 50% of the new entity. ByteDance will retain a minority stake of 19.9%, while affiliates of existing ByteDance investors will hold the remaining shares.
The structure closely follows a framework announced in September, when US President Donald Trump delayed enforcement of a law that would have banned TikTok unless its US operations were sold. That legislation was originally passed by Congress in April 2024 during President Joe Biden’s administration.
TikTok said the deal would allow its more than 170 million American users to continue accessing the platform. The company added that the new structure would preserve TikTok’s role as a global digital community while addressing US security concerns.
As part of the agreement, Oracle is expected to license TikTok’s recommendation algorithm. The algorithm will reportedly be retrained using American user data to limit the risk of external influence over content recommendations.
Negotiations around TikTok’s future have faced repeated delays, reflecting broader tensions between the United States and China over trade, technology and security. President Trump said last year that Chinese President Xi Jinping had approved the proposed structure, though uncertainty persisted following further diplomatic discussions.
Some US lawmakers remain sceptical. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon criticised the deal, arguing it does not go far enough to protect the privacy of American users or guarantee full independence from ByteDance.
Concerns have also been voiced by content creators and small business owners who rely on the platform. Tiffany Cianci, a US entrepreneur with a large TikTok following, said she hopes new investors will preserve the app’s favourable terms for small businesses.
TikTok says more than seven million US small businesses use the platform to market their products and services. For many, the outcome of the deal will determine whether TikTok remains a viable and trusted space for digital commerce.
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