The popular social media platform TikTok has finalized an ownership restructuring that establishes a majority American-owned entity with specific measures addressing election security and preventing foreign interference in American democratic processes. The announcement Thursday emphasizes electoral integrity protections.
ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, has agreed to a structure reducing its ownership to 19.9%, while American investors assume controlling interest with 80.1%. Oracle, Silver Lake, MGX, and Michael Dell’s firm create ownership supporting robust election security programs.
This resolution addresses concerns that extended beyond general national security to specific election security worries—the potential for foreign actors to use the platform to interfere in American elections through misinformation, voter suppression, candidate attacks, or algorithmic manipulation of political content. American ownership enables implementing American election integrity standards and partnering with American election officials, political scientists, and civil society organizations monitoring electoral interference.
Leadership of the American entity will be entrusted to Adam Presser as CEO, with responsibility for election security programs during American election cycles. The seven-member board with national security expertise can evaluate election interference risks and ensure adequate protective measures. Shou Chew participates within this election security framework.
The new US entity implements election security measures: partnerships with election officials and fact-checkers, labels on election-related content from official sources, reduced distribution for election misinformation, removal of voter suppression content, transparency about political advertising, and collaboration with researchers studying electoral interference. These measures protect election integrity while respecting political speech. The recommendation algorithm undergoes training ensuring it doesn’t amplify election misinformation or enable interference—US-data training includes integrity signals. Enhanced moderation specifically addresses election security threats during campaign periods. Both governments approved this election security-focused approach.