TikTok US To Hold Copy Of Algorithm, Secured By Oracle: White House

Oracle is expected to provide security for a US version of TikTok's algorithm, the White House announced on Monday, as part of a deal involving the sale of the Chinese-owned app's American operations.

According to a senior White House official, the proposal relocates TikTok's US operations into a newly formed joint venture based in the United States, which will feature a "majority-American board of directors."

Oracle will function as the security provider for this arrangement.

The agreement stipulates that a copy of TikTok's content recommendation algorithm will be transferred into the US joint venture system.

"It's going to be fully inspected and retrained by the security provider on US user data, and then it's going to be operated by that US entity," the official explained, speaking anonymously.

The United States has vigorously pursued the transfer of TikTok's US operations from Chinese parent company ByteDance due to national security concerns.

During President Trump's predecessor Joe Biden's administration, Congress enacted legislation requiring ByteDance to sell its US operations or face a ban on the immensely popular platform.

American policymakers, including Trump during his first term, have cautioned that China might use TikTok to collect data from Americans or influence what content they view on social media.

The White House official stated on Monday that the algorithm would be "continuously monitored" to ensure it is "not being unduly influenced."

These latest developments follow Trump's announcement on Friday about progress with Chinese President Xi Jinping on various issues, including TikTok, after the two leaders spoke by telephone for the second time since Trump returned to the presidency.

According to the US official, Trump is expected to sign an executive order this week declaring that the terms of the TikTok deal satisfy US national security requirements.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News over the weekend that "there will be seven seats on the board that controls the app in the United States, and six of those seats will be Americans."

Trump separately indicated that media mogul Rupert Murdoch and his eldest son Lachlan could be among the investors who will assume control of TikTok's operations in the United States.