Today, Explained TikTok’s new owners
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Sep 23, 2025 Amrith Ramkumar, a tech policy reporter for The Wall Street Journal, discusses the implications of a proposed TikTok deal, highlighting national security concerns and the pivotal role of Oracle. Benjamin Smith, co-founder of Semaphore, delves into the Ellison family's media acquisitions, warning about the risks of media consolidation and political influence. Together, they explore whether Larry Ellison’s ties to Trump could affect TikTok's algorithm and the future of news organizations amid shifting standards.
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Deal Provides Operational Certainty
- The deal aims to give U.S. users certainty that TikTok will keep operating and their experience won't disappear overnight.
- It also transfers control of U.S. operations and user data to a newly created U.S.-focused entity to address security concerns.
Algorithm Lease Creates A U.S. Variant
- The plan copies TikTok's global algorithm and leases it to the new U.S. entity, creating a U.S.-specific algorithm run for American users.
- Oracle's cloud and the lease arrangement are presented as the technical firewall against Chinese interference.
Algorithm Remains The Central Concern
- Washington remains skeptical that a leased algorithm and cloud protections fully prevent Chinese influence.
- The algorithm question remains central because it shapes what 170 million Americans see and believe.