Washington, DC, September 21(HS): In a landmark announcement, the White House has unveiled the details of a breakthrough pact with China to transfer control of TikTok’s powerful recommendation algorithm and US operations into American hands. The deal, hailed by President Donald Trump after direct talks with Xi Jinping, grants US companies six of seven board seats in TikTok’s US business and places data privacy management under tech giant Oracle—bolstering both security and oversight amid mounting cross-Pacific tension.

Negotiations had been roiled by the thorny question of algorithm ownership—a core concern for US regulators and lawmakers alarmed by the app’s potential national security risks. Under the new arrangement, US investors—including Oracle’s Larry Ellison and prominent media owner David Ellison—will anchor TikTok’s American division, leaving Beijing’s ByteDance with limited influence. The White House insists this framework will safeguard American users while addressing long-standing fears of surveillance and foreign manipulation.

While China’s response remains cautious, official sources signal openness to a settlement that complies with market rules and national interests. The agreement also follows months of legislative and judicial wrangling, with Trump, once a vocal critic of TikTok, now touting the app’s reach among young voters and its role in shaping the digital public square.

Final signatures on the pact are expected within days, setting the stage for revamped governance and opening a new chapter in US-China tech relations. The deal’s implications for content curation, privacy, and global social media standards will be closely watched by regulators, industry leaders, and the app’s 170 million American users.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar