The White House announced on Saturday (September 20) that, according to the agreement reached between the United States and China, TikTok’s algorithm will be controlled by the United States.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated in an interview with Fox News on Saturday that the data and privacy management of TikTok’s US operations will be handled by one of the best technology companies in the US, Oracle, and the algorithm will also be controlled by the US.
However, she did not provide more details about the algorithm.
According to Reuters, a senior White House official said that the TikTok agreement means that the TikTok algorithm “will be protected, retrained, and operated in the United States, free from the control of ByteDance.”
There has been significant attention on who will control TikTok’s algorithm. The consensus reached between the US and China on the algorithm is a key development in their negotiations. This is because US lawmakers have become increasingly concerned in recent years about the possibility of China using TikTok’s algorithm to manipulate the content seen by Americans on social media, promote anti-American propaganda, and influence public opinion in the US.
On January 13, 2024, Republican Senator Ted Cruz raised concerns during a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioning TikTok’s CEO Shou Zi Chew, about the differences in content promoted on TikTok in China, which focuses on science and math education while limiting children’s screen time, compared to the US where there is content promoting self-harm and anti-Israel sentiments.
In 2024, the US Congress passed the “Sell or Ban TikTok” act, requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok’s US operations by the deadline set by Congress (January 19, 2025) or face a complete ban in the US. Since assuming office, President Trump signed three executive orders delaying the ban on TikTok until September 17.
The US-China trade teams recently held talks in Madrid and reached a framework agreement on TikTok, leading President Trump to sign another executive order extending the deadline for ByteDance to divest TikTok’s US business to December 16.
In recent weeks, the Chinese government has stated that there are no plans to transfer TikTok’s algorithm to the US. However, after negotiations in Madrid, US Treasury Secretary Mnuchin indicated that Trump provided leverage to the US team, forcing China to eventually reach a framework agreement on TikTok.
During the opening day of negotiations in Madrid, Trump warned that the US may end TikTok, depending on China, as negotiations on TikTok continue between the US and China.
Spokesperson Leavitt stated in the Fox News interview on Saturday that a consensus has been reached on details including the TikTok algorithm, and “now all we need to do is sign this agreement, which I expect to be completed in the next few days.”
When asked on Friday at the White House if he was confident that China would not regain control over TikTok, President Trump replied, “We will take very strict control measures.”
“We are able to make an agreement with China concerning TikTok. For us, this is a very good agreement, and I hope it is also a good agreement for them,” the President added.