Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
After months of political wrangling and uncertainty, the future of TikTok in the United States appears to be moving toward resolution. China’s government has formally approved a transfer agreement allowing the sale of the popular video-sharing app’s U.S. operations, a development that could finally end an 18-month standoff between Washington and Beijing over data security and digital sovereignty.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed the approval Thursday, describing it as a breakthrough moment in negotiations that have often seemed on the verge of collapse. “In Kuala Lumpur, we finalized the TikTok agreement in terms of getting Chinese approval,” Bessent said in an interview with Fox Business Network following President Donald Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. “I would expect that would go forward in the coming weeks and months, and we’ll finally see a resolution to that.”
China’s Ministry of Commerce echoed that sentiment in a brief statement, saying it would “properly handle TikTok-related issues with the United States,” signaling a rare note of cooperation on a matter that has strained bilateral relations for years.
TikTok’s Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance, has not yet commented publicly on the development.
The Law Behind the Sale
The long-running saga over TikTok’s U.S. ownership began in earnest in 2024, when Congress passed legislation requiring ByteDance to divest its American operations by January 2025. Lawmakers cited national security and data privacy concerns for the app’s roughly 170 million U.S. users, arguing that TikTok’s Chinese ownership created the potential for data access by Beijing.
Former President Trump, who made restricting Chinese technology companies a centerpiece of his first administration, signed an executive order on September 25 authorizing the sale of TikTok’s U.S. business to a consortium of American and international investors. The order delayed enforcement of the divestment law until January 20, providing time for the deal’s complex regulatory approvals and technical handover.
Under the terms of the agreement, TikTok’s algorithm the powerful recommendation system that drives its viral content will be retrained and monitored by U.S. security partners. The new American-led joint venture will oversee operations independently, while ByteDance retains a minority, non-controlling stake.
According to the Independent, ByteDance’s ownership will fall below 20%, ensuring compliance with the divestment law. The company will be allowed to appoint one of seven board members in the new U.S. entity, while American investors will hold the remaining six seats.
Lingering Security Concerns
Despite the apparent progress, skepticism remains in Washington. Representative John Moolenaar, the Republican chair of the House Select Committee on China, warned that any ongoing licensing arrangement for TikTok’s algorithm could raise “serious concerns” about security and control.
“Even if ByteDance’s direct ownership is reduced, the influence of its technology and design must be fully safeguarded from foreign interference,” Moolenaar said in a statement.
For now, the agreement appears to strike a fragile balance allowing TikTok to continue operating in the U.S. while attempting to satisfy bipartisan concerns over data privacy, influence, and national security.
A Turning Point for TikTok and Its Users
If completed as planned, the sale could provide a long-awaited sense of stability for the app and its vast user base. The transfer would ensure TikTok’s continued presence in the U.S. market, preserving the livelihoods of countless creators, advertisers, and small businesses that rely on the platform.
For the millions of Americans who open TikTok each day for entertainment, education, and creative expression, little may visibly change. The familiar dances, comedy sketches, and viral challenges that have defined modern internet culture are expected to continue uninterrupted though under new management that meets U.S. regulatory standards.
Bessent’s comments suggest that after years of legal battles, political posturing, and uncertainty, TikTok’s American future may finally be on a clear path forward. Yet as with many issues at the intersection of technology and geopolitics, the true test will come not with the sale itself, but in how the new entity safeguards the digital lives of its users in an increasingly divided world.
