Talks led by the White House to determine TikTok’s future are coalescing around a proposal that would have some of ByteDance’s largest non-Chinese investors increase their stakes and acquire the U.S. operations of the popular short video app.
The plan, according to two sources familiar with the discussions, involves spinning off a U.S. entity for TikTok and reducing Chinese ownership to below the 20 percent limit mandated by U.S. law—an effort aimed at saving the app from an imminent ban on national security grounds.
The proposed deal has drawn strong support from existing ByteDance investors, including Jeff Yass’ Susquehanna International Group and Bill Ford’s General Atlantic, both of which sit on ByteDance’s board. Private equity firm KKR is also participating, the sources said. Under the plan, Oracle would continue to host U.S. user data and guarantee that it remains inaccessible to China, reinforcing assurances of data security.
The proposed restructuring comes in the wake of a law, effective January 19, that requires ByteDance to either divest its U.S. operations or face a ban. U.S. officials have raised concerns over TikTok’s Chinese ownership, arguing that it makes the app vulnerable to potential influence operations by the Chinese government—a claim the company denies, insisting that its content recommendation engine and user data are managed domestically.
White House involvement in the negotiations has been unprecedented, with the administration essentially taking on the role of an investment bank to broker a deal that would allow ByteDance to maintain a stake in TikTok while transferring operational control. The deal is seen as critical not only for TikTok’s survival in the U.S. market but also for setting a precedent in U.S.-China technology relations.
Other groups, including an investor consortium led by billionaire Frank McCourt and another involving YouTube personality Mr. Beast, are also reported to be vying for the app. However, current indications suggest that existing ByteDance investors are the frontrunners in the discussions.
Representatives for TikTok, ByteDance, Susquehanna, Oracle, and the White House could not immediately be reached for comment.
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ByteDance will take steps to prevent the unauthorised use of intellectual property on its artificial intelligence (AI) video generator Seedance 2.0, the Chinese technology firm said on Monday.
TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, has finalised a deal to create a majority American-owned joint venture that will secure U.S. user data, safeguarding the popular short-video app from a potential U.S. ban. The move comes after years of political and legal battles over national security concerns.
President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the U.S. and China have a deal that would keep TikTok operating in the United States, transferring its U.S. assets to U.S. owners from China's ByteDance, potentially resolving a saga that has lingered for nearly a year.
President Donald Trump said he has American buyers ready for TikTok and could extend ByteDance’s divestment deadline, emphasizing he has no privacy or security concerns.
Tensions in the region remained high on Tuesday (10 March), as the United States and Iran exchanged increasingly sharp warnings, including threats over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
Iranian civilian and military officials have pledged their obedience to the new leader, Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei, with President Masoud Pezeshkian saying his leadership “will herald a new era of dignity and authority for the Iranian nation.”.
Kazakhstan has evacuated more than 7,300 citizens from the Middle East since regional tensions escalated, using both air and land routes to bring nationals home while closely monitoring political developments and potential economic effects linked to rising oil prices.
At least six people have died after a bus caught fire in Kerzers, Switzerland, in what police say may have been a deliberate act. Witnesses reported a man inside the vehicle set himself alight. Three others were injured and taken to hospital, while authorities continue their investigation.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 11th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Iran and Israel continue to exchange missile and drone strikes across the Middle East - all the latest updates throughout the day on AnewZ
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, has addressed the U.N. Security Council, saying the world must consider how effective its engagement with the Taliban-run country is as millions face hunger.
British MPs have rejected a proposal to introduce an Australia-style ban on social media for under-16s, opting instead to give ministers flexible powers to impose restrictions on platforms.
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