Oracle to control TikTok's algorithm in the US: What changes might users notice?

Tech giant Oracle will be responsible for ensuring the security of TikTok's algorithm as part of a pact pushed by the Trump administration to allow the video app to operate in the United States with minimal Chinese representation , the White House announced Monday.

The deal with Beijing-backed Chinese parent company ByteDance will move TikTok's "U.S. operations into a new, majority-U.S. joint venture ," with "Oracle acting as the security provider ," an administration official told reporters.

"(Oracle) will provide comprehensive security across the enterprise, including how the app integrates with and interacts with the phone, how it's updated, how US data is stored in Oracle's systems, how the content recommendation algorithm works, and ultimately every part of the app's source code," the official explained.

He warned that this was a "difficult point of negotiation" between the parties, who worked to reach an agreement that met the requirements of both US and Chinese laws. "This proposal would place the algorithm under the control of the US joint venture" for its operations in the US, he added.

Asked about guarantees for user data protection, the official insisted that Oracle will "fully inspect and retrain" the algorithm, which "will then be operated by that US entity."

"It will be continuously monitored throughout its operation to ensure it behaves correctly and is not used for malicious purposes or improperly influenced," he said.

The US Congress established in 2024 that, for national security reasons , TikTok should establish a company to operate in the country sufficiently separate from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.

US lawmakers' concerns primarily concern Beijing's potential access to the data of millions of users of the popular short-form video platform in the country.

The current agreement will ensure that ByteDance will have less than a 20% stake in the new joint venture, whose investors will include a mix of U.S. and global companies that are already ByteDance investors, "as well as a significant number of new investors that have no affiliation" with the Chinese company.

US President Donald Trump hinted on Sunday that media moguls Rupert Murdoch and his son Lachlan would have a seat on the board of directors of the company that will operate TikTok on US soil.

He also mentioned the likely involvement of Oracle Chief Executive Larry Ellison and Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell .

The White House did not specify an exact date for the signing of the agreement on Monday, although it did say that Trump will provide more information on the details of the pact later this week.

" We are confident that China has approved the agreement and that it will move forward with all the necessary regulatory procedures for final approval," the official said, adding that no additional discussions on the matter with Chinese negotiators are planned.

Last week, Trump extended—for the fourth time this year—the deadline for TikTok to remain available in the U.S., where it will operate until at least December 16 .

TikTok users in the United States may notice changes to the app following the agreement. While the interface, video features, and social interactions will remain the same , the algorithm's operation will be completely different. Oracle will be responsible for the security, oversight, and retraining of the recommendation system using only data from US users.

To ensure control over the algorithm and data, users will likely need to migrate to a separate version of TikTok designed exclusively for the US market . This step may involve downloading a new app, although the overall user experience will remain familiar to those already using the platform.

Once the agreement is signed , the transition is expected to take several months to complete , which would put the implementation of the changes in late 2025 or early 2026. Until then, TikTok will continue to operate under current conditions, but with Oracle constantly monitoring its algorithm and local data management.

With information from agencies.