TIKTOK has reached a joint venture agreement with a group of investors that would allow the video-sharing platform to continue operating in the United States and sidestep a looming ban linked to its Chinese ownership, according to US media reports.
An internal memo cited by Bloomberg and Axios said TikTok chief executive Shou Chew informed staff that the company and its parent, ByteDance, had agreed to the creation of a new entity that would meet US legal and national security requirements.
Under the proposed structure, US technology firm Oracle, investment group Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi-based MGX would emerge as major investors in the venture, giving it a stronger American and allied ownership profile.
AFPR reported that the agreement largely confirms a White House announcement made in September, which said the proposed arrangement would comply with a 2024 law mandating the sale or restructuring of TikTok’s US operations.
The legislation threatened to ban the app nationwide if ByteDance retained majority ownership, citing concerns over data security and potential influence by the Chinese government.
TikTok, one of the most widely used social media platforms in the United States, has long been under scrutiny by US lawmakers and regulators over its ownership structure and handling of user data.
The joint venture is intended to resolve those concerns while preserving the app’s access to its American user base.
US officials have argued that the law was necessary to protect national security, while TikTok and ByteDance have maintained that the company operates independently and does not share data with Chinese authorities.
If finalised and approved by regulators, the new venture would mark a significant turning point in the long-running dispute over TikTok’s presence in the United States, balancing political pressure in Washington with the commercial interests of one of the world’s most influential digital platforms. - December 19, 2025
TikTok, United States, ByteDance, social media, technology, national security, Oracle, foreign investment
