ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, is expected to retain a significant role in the social media platform’s operations in the United States, even as efforts to reshape the app’s ownership structure continue, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The U.S. government has been pressing for changes to TikTok’s corporate setup, citing concerns about data security and national interests. Lawmakers have argued that TikTok’s ties to ByteDance could pose risks if sensitive user information were accessed by foreign entities.
Despite the scrutiny, insiders suggest that ByteDance will still maintain influence in a restructured U.S. version of TikTok, though the exact framework remains under discussion. Any agreement would likely involve new oversight measures and possible partnerships with American investors to address regulatory concerns.
TikTok, which boasts more than 170 million U.S. users, has repeatedly denied that it poses a national security threat and has pledged to protect user data through initiatives like Project Texas, designed to store U.S. information on domestic servers.
With negotiations ongoing, analysts say the outcome could set a precedent for how Washington handles foreign-owned tech platforms in the years ahead.
