Trump announces TikTok agreement with Chinese leader
In a series of recent developments, the future of TikTok in the United States remains uncertain. The popular video-sharing app, owned by Chinese company Bytedance, has been at the centre of a political storm, with concerns over potential influence from the Chinese government and the algorithm used by the app.
Under a US law passed last year, TikTok would have had to be sold by Bytedance or taken offline in the US by January 19, 2025. However, President Donald Trump granted an additional grace period, allowing negotiations to continue.
The US government has expressed concerns that the Chinese government or Bytedance could have control over the algorithm, which critics see as a potential risk for influencing public opinion. TikTok and Bytedance, however, deny these claims, stating that the algorithm does not pose a risk for US government influence.
According to reports, American investors such as Oracle, Silver Lake, and Andreessen Horowitz are set to hold 80% of a new US subsidiary of TikTok. The remaining 20% will remain with Chinese shareholders. The investors holding 80% of the newly established US subsidiary are prominent US investors, with Oracle expected to retain its role as the technical provider in the US.
The US government had already spoken of a basic agreement on the future of TikTok in the US earlier in the week. President Trump assured that the agreements would prevent Chinese influence over the app. The US government is also reportedly set to receive several billion dollars from investors as part of the TikTok transaction.
The debate over TikTok has sparked a broader discussion on press freedom and freedom of speech in the US. A dispute over the discussion of the death of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk has fuelled this debate, with the Trump administration announcing it would take action against commentators who, in their view, do not express themselves appropriately.
The temporary suspension of the late-night show of US comedian Jimmy Kimmel due to his comments on the Kirk case further fueled the debate. A 31-year-old was shot dead last week in the state of Utah; many of his ultra-conservative views are criticized as racist and sexist.
Despite the ongoing negotiations, TikTok will continue to use the algorithm developed in china to determine which videos are shown to users in the US. This decision has raised further concerns about the potential for Chinese influence over the app's content.
As the negotiations continue, the future of TikTok in the US remains in limbo. The app, which previously reported having more than 170 million users in the US, faces a critical period as it seeks to secure its presence in the American market.
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