House chair seeks urgent White House briefing on TikTok deal as ownership aims for U.S. control

WASHINGTON — The chairman of a House committee that pressed for a law forcing ByteDance to divest TikTok has asked the White House for an urgent briefing on the latest U.S.-led effort to place the platform under American ownership, a day after former President Donald Trump signed an executive order backing a proposed deal. Rep. John Moolenaar, who leads the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, praised the framework as a meaningful step toward transferring control of TikTok to U.S. hands but stressed that divestiture is not the law’s only requirement. He emphasized guardrails that would block ByteDance from influencing TikTok’s recommendation algorithm and prohibit ongoing operational ties between ByteDance and the new U.S. entity.

The request marks the first congressional move to scrutinize the negotiations surrounding TikTok’s future ownership and comes as U.S. and Chinese officials continue to refine a framework for divestment discussed during talks in Spain about two weeks earlier. The White House had not immediately responded to inquiries from The Associated Press about the urgent briefing.

Details of the deal remain murky, but the outline circulating in Washington envisions a new U.S.-based investment consortium that would own the platform and license the algorithm that currently drives TikTok’s engagement. Oracle, a longtime partner in the U.S. investment plan, would audit a copy of the algorithm and monitor it for security purposes as part of the arrangement. Vice President JD Vance indicated that the administration believes the deal could keep TikTok operating in the United States while safeguarding American data.

Under the structure described by multiple sources, the new venture’s controlling stake would be roughly 80 percent held by U.S. investors, with ByteDance retaining a minority stake of less than 20 percent — a portion reserved for foreign investors. The board running the platform would be led by U.S. investors, and ByteDance would be represented on the board by a single member who would be barred from involvement in security-related matters. Proponents argue that such representation would give Beijing some influence while preserving U.S. control over day-to-day operations.

Yet several critics say the arrangement may fall short of the law’s intent. Craig Singleton, senior China fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, contends that divestiture should mean severance, not ongoing oversight or a continued role for ByteDance. He warned that a board seat or any residual influence over the algorithm could violate congressional requirements designed to remove ByteDance from the TikTok business altogether.

Supporters of the deal argue that licensing the algorithm to a U.S.-owned entity is a pragmatic way to retain the platform’s popularity while addressing national security concerns. Daniel Keum, a management professor at Columbia Business School, suggested the valuation could reflect political considerations as much as market forces. He pointed out that TikTok’s brand strength and user base represent significant value, but competitive dynamics have shifted, as creators increasingly distribute content across multiple platforms.

Despite questions about the valuation, Vance said he expects the deal to place TikTok’s U.S. operation at roughly $14 billion, calling it a “good deal” for investors trying to weigh the risks and rewards of TikTok’s future. Keum characterized the figure as “surprisingly low,” noting that factors such as licensing terms and potential revenue-sharing arrangements could depress the app’s apparent value in the near term. He cautioned that the licensing structure, still not fully disclosed, could entail price pressures or royalties that affect the platform’s profitability for U.S. owners.

The political backdrop remains a defining factor. Lawmakers have long viewed ByteDance as a potential vector for Chinese influence, particularly given Beijing’s strategic priorities and the platform’s ability to shape public discourse. Moolenaar framed divestiture as a bipartisan imperative, arguing that the United States must ensure ByteDance no longer controls TikTok’s underlying technology or access. Congress passed related legislation last year aimed at banning the app unless ByteDance divested U.S. assets, a policy that the Supreme Court later upheld.

As discussions progress, the administration has framed the talks as technical and security-focused rather than punitive toward Chinese interests. China’s Foreign Ministry has reiterated its call for a fair, market-based negotiation environment, while declining to offer new details about the ongoing talks. Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Beijing supports commercial negotiations that comply with Chinese laws and regulations and seek a balanced outcome of interests, urging the United States to maintain an open and non-discriminatory business climate for Chinese firms investing in the United States.

Analysts note the influence of TikTok’s algorithm on user behavior is central to the debate. Bart Knijnenburg, a Clemson University computer scientist who studies how recommendation systems steer online consumption, warned that even with a U.S.-run algorithm, the core challenge would persist: algorithms are designed to maximize engagement, often by encouraging addictive use. He argued that to truly address concerns about Chinese influence, the debate should include transparency into the mechanics of the algorithm so users can see how content is prioritized and why.

Knijnenburg cautioned that relocating the algorithm to the United States would not automatically resolve broader social and ethical issues associated with algorithmic design. He said a market-based approach to content recommendation can still produce harmful personalization if safeguards aren’t implemented, and suggested that openness about how the system operates could help users understand and contest potential biases.

As lawmakers and the White House weigh the draft framework, Moolenaar indicated on Friday that he would like more information about the specifics: how the licensing arrangement would work in practice, how the new entity would be governed, and what measures would ensure that ByteDance cannot influence TikTok’s operations or content decisions beyond what is legally permitted. He underscored that oversight will continue to be a priority for the committee as negotiations unfold and a formal transition plan is developed.

The timeline for finalizing any deal remains uncertain. The parties involved have signaled a desire to move forward, but sensitivity to political dynamics, regulatory reviews, and enforcement mechanisms means a final agreement could take months. In the meantime, lawmakers will continue to scrutinize the proposed structure to ensure it aligns with both the letter and the spirit of U.S. law designed to curb foreign influence over critical digital platforms.