TikTok Deal Framework Expected by April 5 as White House Pushes for U.S. Ownership
TikTok's U.S. operations could see new ownership framework by April 5, as Vice President JD Vance leads negotiations for the platform's future amid national security concerns.
The urgency comes after President Biden signed legislation requiring ByteDance to divest from TikTok or face a U.S. ban. While the app briefly went offline on January 19, President Trump issued a 75-day extension, appointing JD Vance to oversee the sale process.
TikTok logo against gray backdrop
Vance confirmed that four different groups are competing for TikTok's U.S. operations, expressing confidence in reaching an agreement that addresses national security concerns while establishing a distinct American TikTok enterprise.
White House sources indicate discussions with Oracle regarding oversight of TikTok's U.S. data, potentially maintaining ByteDance's algorithm. However, this arrangement raises security concerns as ByteDance would remain involved in the app's development.
Key developments:
- Framework expected by April 5, with possible extended work needed
- Oracle in talks for data oversight role
- ByteDance algorithm may remain in place
- Billionaire Frank McCourt and Reddit Co-Founder Alexis Ohanian join bidding process
Neither TikTok nor ByteDance have commented on the ongoing negotiations. The final agreement must balance national security priorities while maintaining TikTok's functionality and user experience in the U.S. market.
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