TikTok US Divestiture Completed

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SUMMARY

ByteDance finalized the $14 billion sale of TikTok's U.S. operations on January 28, 2026, establishing TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, with Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based MGX collectively owning 80.1% of the U.S. operations. As of July 17, 2026, federal employees are permitted to use TikTok on government devices following a U.S. Department of Justice opinion that the restructured U.S. operations no longer pose a national security risk. Adam Pressler was appointed CEO under Oracle's oversight of data protection and algorithm security, while ByteDance retains a 19.9% stake. This divestiture followed a U.S. federal appeals court upholding a law forcing ByteDance to sell or face a ban, despite ByteDance's initial statements denying sale plans.

Timeline

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Timeline of developments

July 2026 1 developments

  1. US Allows Federal Employees to Use TikTok on Government Devices After Ownership Change

    Federal employees are now permitted to use TikTok on government devices following a U.S. Department of Justice opinion released on July 17, 2026. This decision reverses a 2022 ban, with the Justice Department concluding that the restructured U.S. operations of TikTok no longer pose a national security risk.

June 2026 6 developments

  1. ByteDance Completes $14 Billion Sale of TikTok's US Operations

    ByteDance finalized the $14 billion sale of TikTok's US operations on January 28, 2026, establishing TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC. Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based MGX collectively own 80.1% of the US operations, with ByteDance retaining 19.9%, and Adam Pressler appointed CEO under Oracle's oversight of data protection and algorithm security.

  2. ByteDance Denies TikTok Sale Plans Amidst Loan Talks and China's Shifting Stance

    ByteDance has stated it has no plans to sell TikTok, despite a US law mandating divestiture or a ban, while China has signaled potential openness to a deal that would keep TikTok operating in the US. Concurrently, ByteDance is reportedly in talks to secure a $20 billion offshore loan to increase investments in AI and infrastructure.

  3. US Appeals Court Upholds Law Forcing TikTok Sale, Ban Looms

    A U.S. federal appeals court has upheld a law forcing ByteDance to sell TikTok's U.S. operations or face a ban. This ruling significantly increases the likelihood of an unprecedented ban on the platform, used by 170 million Americans, within six weeks. TikTok has indicated its intention to appeal this decision to the Supreme Court.

  4. TikTok Divestiture Deadline Looms as US and Company Continue Talks

    The US has not extended the TikTok divestiture deadline as of early June 2026, with discussions anticipated to continue. This follows a January 2026 deal that established a new US joint venture with majority American ownership to comply with a law effective January 2025. National security concerns regarding potential Chinese government access to US user data remain the central issue, which TikTok denies.

  5. TikTok US Operations Finalized into New Joint Venture, Oracle Named Security Partner

    TikTok's U.S. operations have been finalized into a new joint venture, TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, as of June 4, 2026, to avoid a ban. American and global investors hold an 80.1% stake, with Oracle acting as the trusted security partner. ByteDance retains a 19.9% ownership, and control over the algorithm's security and content moderation for U.S. users has shifted to the new joint venture.

May 2026 1 developments

  1. TikTok US Operations Sale Details Emerge Amidst Investor Deal and Deadline Extensions

    A deal has been reached for ByteDance to sell TikTok's U.S. operations to a joint venture controlled by American investors, with the transaction set to close on January 22, 2026. Significant investors include Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX, each holding a 15% stake, while ByteDance will retain a 19.9% ownership. This development contradicts previous ByteDance statements denying sale plans and exploring a separate U.S. app, and follows multiple deadline extensions for the divestiture.

April 2026 3 developments

  1. US court upholds TikTok sale or ban law, reiterates Jan 2025 deadline

    A US federal court has upheld legislation compelling ByteDance to sell TikTok's US operations or face a ban, reiterating the January 19, 2025 deadline. The court's decision comes amid ongoing legal battles and multiple extensions, with the latest set to expire in mid-September 2025. TikTok has vowed to contest the law, with CEO Shou Zi Chew expressing confidence in their legal standing.

  2. U.S. Senate Passes Bill Requiring ByteDance to Sell TikTok or Face Ban

    The U.S. Senate has passed a bill requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok within nine months or face a ban in the United States. President Biden plans to sign the legislation, which is part of a larger foreign aid package and prohibits ByteDance from controlling the platform's algorithm. TikTok has stated the bill would "trample the free speech rights of 170 million Americans" and is expected to seek an injunction.

  3. Retail Investors Sue to Block Trump's TikTok Deal, Citing Divestiture Law Violations

    Retail investors of Alphabet and Meta Platforms have filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn President Trump's approval of a joint venture for TikTok's US assets. The plaintiffs allege the deal violates a 2024 divestiture law, claiming ByteDance would retain control and potentially enable Chinese propaganda and censorship.

March 2026 2 developments

  1. U.S. government to receive $10 billion in fees from TikTok's American operations sale

    The U.S. government is set to receive approximately $10 billion in fees from investors who acquired TikTok's American operations from ByteDance. This transaction, finalized in January 2026, was driven by national security concerns to prevent a U.S. ban on the app. The newly formed U.S. entity, TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, is majority-owned by American investors.

  2. Lawsuit challenges Trump administration's TikTok sale approval

    A lawsuit was filed on March 5-6, 2026, challenging the Trump administration's approval of TikTok's sale, alleging that ByteDance retains control of the app's recommendation algorithm and key functions. The suit claims this arrangement undermines the intent of the 2024 law requiring divestiture to avoid a US ban. Plaintiffs argue the deal violates the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.

January 2026 15 developments

  1. TikTok experiences glitches and bugs after U.S. business separation from ByteDance

    Following the separation of its U.S. business from ByteDance, TikTok has been experiencing glitches and bugs, including issues with video counts and user engagement, attributed to a widespread power outage at a data center.

  2. Senator Markey Calls for Congressional Investigation into TikTok Deal Transparency

    Senator Edward J. Markey has expressed concerns regarding the lack of transparency surrounding the TikTok deal and is calling for a congressional investigation to ensure the agreement protects national security and keeps TikTok online.

  3. White House and Chinese Government Approve TikTok US Operations Deal

    The White House and Chinese government have officially approved the deal for TikTok's US operations to be divested to a new, majority American-owned joint venture, thereby avoiding a ban. This confirmation solidifies the agreement reached between Washington and Beijing.

  4. Oracle and US Consortium Gain 80% Control of New TikTok Entity, ByteDance Retains Under 20%

    The deal reportedly grants Oracle and a US consortium 80% control of the new American entity, which will manage US user data and algorithms. ByteDance is expected to remain the largest single shareholder with just under 20%.

  5. House China Committee Chair Moolenaar Questions TikTok's New Owners on Algorithm and Data Security

    House China Committee Chair John Moolenaar has raised two key questions for TikTok's new American owners as the sale of the app's U.S. operations is set to close. Moolenaar's concerns focus on ensuring the algorithm is not influenced by the Chinese Communist Party and securing American user data.

  6. US and China approve TikTok US business sale to Oracle, Silverlake consortium

    The US and China have reportedly approved a deal to sell TikTok's US business to a consortium of mostly US investors, including Oracle and Silverlake. The deal is expected to close this week, meeting the January 22 deadline.

  7. Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX identified as investors in new TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC

    Specific American investors, including Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX, have been identified for the new TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, with Oracle taking a central role in data security and algorithm oversight. TikTok is reportedly reorganizing its US workforce into two entities, with some employees joining the joint venture and others remaining with a ByteDance-owned entity, and the joint venture plans to retrain its recommendation algorithm.

December 2025 1 developments

  1. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew announces new US-based joint venture, TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC

    TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew informs staff about a deal for a new U.S.-based joint venture, 'TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC,' which will be majority-owned by American investors, with ByteDance and its affiliates retaining less than 20% ownership. The deal is expected to officially begin on January 22, 2026.

September 2025 1 developments

January 2025 3 developments

  1. US bans TikTok nationwide effective January 2025 over data concerns

    TikTok has been under a de jure nationwide ban in the United States since January 19, 2025, due to concerns over user data and Chinese government influence, though the ban has yet to be enforced. This ban took effect after ByteDance refused to sell the service.

April 2024 2 developments

  1. ByteDance states no plans to sell TikTok despite US divestiture law

    ByteDance has announced that it has no plans to sell TikTok, despite a new US law mandating divestiture or a ban. This statement contradicts previous reports detailing a divestiture deal and the formation of a new US joint venture. US lawmakers have cited national security concerns, alleging potential espionage and propaganda use by the Chinese government, claims which ByteDance denies.

March 2024 2 developments

  1. Senator Markey Demands Answers on TikTok Data Security and Foreign Influence

    Senator Ed Markey has formally requested that TikTok's U.S. joint venture and Oracle provide details on how they are safeguarding American users' personal data and preventing foreign influence over content. This inquiry follows the finalization of a deal in early 2026 where ByteDance transferred U.S. user data and operations to the joint venture, TikTok USDS, to avoid a U.S. ban.

  2. ByteDance signs binding agreements for new U.S. TikTok joint venture

    ByteDance has signed binding agreements to establish a new U.S. joint venture to operate TikTok, fulfilling a commitment made with the Trump administration. This move satisfies a 2024 bipartisan law aimed at addressing national security concerns related to the app's Chinese ownership. The agreement ensures the U.S. version of TikTok will be majority-owned by American investors, following legislative and judicial actions that mandated ByteDance to sell or face a ban.

June 2021 1 developments

August 2020 2 developments