TikTok deal ensures US control of board, says White House

An emerging TikTok deal with China will ensure that US companies control the algorithm that powers the app’s video feed and Americans will hold a majority of seats on a board overseeing US operations, the White House said Saturday.

A central question to the tug of war between Washington and Beijing has been whether the popular social video platform would keep its algorithm after the potential divestment of Chinese parent company ByteDance. Congress passed legislation calling for a TikTok ban to go into effect in January, but Trump has repeatedly signed orders that have allowed TikTok to keep operating in the US as his administration tries to reach agreement for ByteDance to sell its US operations.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said tech giant Oracle would be responsible for the app’s data and security and that Americans will control six of the seven seats for a planned board.