Mon, 22 Sep 2025

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 TikTok algorithm to be retrained on US user data under Trump deal

White House officials claim the deal will be a win for the app's US users and American citizens.
TikTok's algorithm will be copied and retrained using US user data as part of a deal to secure the app's future in the country. A White House official confirmed that Oracle, a tech giant, will audit TikTok's recommendation system and operate it through a new joint venture involving US investors. This move aims to meet requirements for the app's sale, which was sparked by President Donald Trump's threat to ban the app unless its Chinese parent company ByteDance sold it. The deal is expected to be finalized with President Trump signing an executive order outlining how it will comply with US national security demands. A 120-day pause on enforcing a deadline has been put in place to allow the deal to close. TikTok's US user data, which belongs to 170 million users, is already stored on Oracle servers under an existing arrangement called Project Texas. The new deal would involve auditing and inspecting TikTok's source code and recommendation system, with Oracle rebuilding it for US users using only US user data. Oracle's co-founder and chairman Larry Ellison is involved in the deal, which is also backed by private equity firm Silver Lake. White House officials claim that the new joint venture controlling the app will be seeking patriotic investors and board members experienced in cybersecurity to oversee its operations. However, analysts are warning that changes to the way TikTok works for US users could risk putting them off the app or potentially lower its value for creators, brands, and investors.
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