TikTok Finalizes U.S. Operations Deal, Averting Ban and Establishing Data Protections
TikTok and ByteDance Ltd. have resolved their U.S. standoff by creating a new American entity, TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, under terms of President Trump’s September 2025 executive order. The move safeguards operations for 7.5 million businesses and 200 million U.S. users while addressing national security concerns.
The venture will be governed by a seven-member board with majority-American representation, including Oracle Corp.’s Timothy Dattels and TikTok CEO Shou Chew. Former Head of Trust and Safety Adama Pressers will lead the entity’s cybersecurity mission to protect algorithms and user data.
This restructuring avoids a nationwide ban—a rare concession in the escalating tech cold war. The deal exemplifies how geopolitical tensions are reshaping digital infrastructure ownership without disrupting consumer ecosystems.