The ownership of TikTok has undergone a significant restructuring, with the Chinese government approving a deal that transfers a substantial portion of the company to U.S. investors, including Oracle Corporation, Silver Lake, and MGX. Collectively, these entities will hold 45 percent of TikTok's U.S. operations, while ByteDance, the parent company, retains a 19.9 percent stake. This arrangement has sparked criticism due to the involvement of individuals and firms with questionable records regarding privacy and corporate governance.

The deal includes provisions for retraining TikTok's content recommendation algorithm to mitigate external manipulation, yet skepticism remains regarding the effectiveness of these measures, especially given Oracle's history of privacy issues. Notably, Oracle had previously been tasked with overseeing TikTok's algorithms and data protection, raising questions about the necessity of this new arrangement.

Critics argue that the deal primarily serves to benefit Trump's allies, allowing them to gain control over a popular platform while still maintaining ties to its Chinese origins. This shift in ownership has been characterized as a bipartisan failure, with both major political parties contributing to a process that many believe prioritizes corporate interests over user privacy and national security concerns.

The implications of this deal extend beyond corporate governance, as it reflects broader issues of media consolidation and the challenges of ensuring consumer privacy in an increasingly digital landscape. Observers note that if lawmakers were genuinely concerned about privacy and propaganda, they would have pursued comprehensive internet privacy legislation and supported independent journalism rather than facilitating this ownership transfer.