ByteDance Finalizes Majority U.S.-Owned TikTok Joint Venture to Avert American Ban

TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, has finalized a landmark agreement to establish a majority American-owned joint venture aimed at safeguarding U.S. user data and avoiding a nationwide ban on the popular short-video app. The deal marks a turning point after years of political and regulatory pressure centered on national security concerns surrounding TikTok, which is used by more than 200 million Americans.

Under the agreement, the newly formed entity, TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, will oversee U.S. user data, the app’s core infrastructure, and its recommendation algorithm through enhanced data privacy and cybersecurity measures. American and global investors will collectively hold 80.1% of the venture, while ByteDance will retain a 19.9% minority stake. The three managing investors—Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based MGX—will each own 15% of the joint venture.

A White House official confirmed that both the U.S. and Chinese governments approved the deal, signaling rare bilateral agreement on a high-profile technology issue. The structure aligns with terms discussed in September, when enforcement of a law mandating TikTok’s divestiture or ban was delayed. Former President Donald Trump had previously said the arrangement satisfied divestiture requirements under the 2024 legislation.

The joint venture will operate TikTok’s U.S. app, while retraining, testing, and updating the content recommendation algorithm using American user data. The algorithm and related systems will be secured within Oracle’s U.S.-based cloud infrastructure. Former TikTok USDS executives Adam Presser and Will Farrell have been appointed CEO and chief security officer, respectively, while TikTok CEO Shou Chew will serve on the venture’s board.

ByteDance is expected to retain control over separate revenue-generating operations such as advertising and e-commerce through a wholly owned division, while the joint venture will earn revenue by providing technology and data services. Additional investors include the Dell Family Office and several global investment firms.

The deal underscores TikTok’s efforts to address U.S. national security concerns while preserving its massive American user base and long-term growth prospects, potentially reshaping the future of foreign-owned social media platforms operating in the United States.