Synopsis: The US and China have reportedly agreed on a plan to protect American TikTok users’ data. Under the deal, information will be stored on US servers, with Oracle likely playing a key role. Washington also wants access to TikTok’s algorithm for review. The move comes as the September 17 deadline for a ban approaches. President Trump and President Xi are set to finalize the details in a phone call on September 19. The agreement is seen as a rare diplomatic win amid ongoing trade tensions.
Beijing and Washington Find Middle Ground Over TikTok Data
The US and China have reportedly reached an agreement regarding TikTok. Trump and Xi Jinping will talk about this soon. This important move comes as the deadline for a complete ban on TikTok in the United States approaches. The main issue is the agreement to ensure the protection of US users' data.
According to the agreement, TikTok's US user data will not be stored in China. Instead, this information will be transferred to the servers of US companies such as Oracle. The US hopes that this will ensure the security of data and avoid the influence of the Chinese government. Moreover, the agreement also allows American authorities to examine information, including TikTok's algorithm.
Amid trade tensions between Washington and Beijing, the deal is seen as a big diplomatic win. Needless to say, TikTok, made by China’s ByteDance, is a popular app for sharing short videos.
The reports came after high-level talks in Madrid. US President Donald Trump is expected to finalize the deal in a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sept 19. The US Congress has passed a law to ban TikTok, citing national security reasons. The deadline for implementing the law is September 17. Talks to transfer ownership of TikTok from ByteDance to US investors have been ongoing for months.
The U.S. president warmed to TikTok and the prospect
of keeping it alive under the belief that it helped him to win younger voters
in the 2024 presidential election. Still, the law mandating its sale in the
U.S. was premised on the possible security risks the app poses in its
collection of data.
Talks to transfer ownership of TikTok from ByteDance
to US investors have been ongoing for months.
