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[FCE] Trump celebrates TikTok deal as Beijing suggests US app would use China’s algorithm | China | The Guardian

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In a significant development, a deal has been announced to secure the future of the popular social media app TikTok in the United States. Former President Donald Trump revealed on September 17, 2025, that an agreement has been reached with China, allowing a group of major US companies to acquire TikTok. While specific details of the deal remain undisclosed, it was reportedly negotiated in Madrid between US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. The focus of the talks was to transfer TikTok’s American operations from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to new US-based owners.

The controversy surrounding TikTok stems from long-standing concerns over national security. For years, American officials have expressed fears that ByteDance’s connections to the Chinese government could pose a threat. At the heart of these worries is TikTok’s algorithm, which determines the content users see and has been key to the app’s global success as an entertainment platform. Critics argue that this algorithm could be influenced by Chinese authorities to shape content in subtle ways. Although TikTok has consistently denied any manipulation or data sharing with China, a US law passed in 2024 under then-President Joe Biden required the app to be sold to a non-Chinese owner or face a nationwide ban.

Details of the recent agreement suggest that the US version of TikTok might license the algorithm from ByteDance, raising questions about whether Beijing could still exert influence. Meanwhile, the US House Select Committee on China has stressed that any deal must ensure the algorithm is completely independent from ByteDance to comply with American law. Failure to meet this condition could spark further disputes. Trump has postponed a potential ban on TikTok for the fourth time, setting a new deadline of December 16, 2025, while the situation remains unresolved.

This ongoing saga reflects broader tensions between technology, politics, and security on a global scale. As governments grapple with the challenges of regulating powerful social media platforms, the future of TikTok in the US continues to hang in the balance, with significant implications for users and policymakers alike.

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1. What is the main purpose of the deal announced on September 17, 2025?

  • A. To ban TikTok in the United States
  • B. To allow US companies to buy TikTok
  • C. To develop a new social media app
  • D. To share TikTok’s algorithm with China

2. Why have American officials been concerned about TikTok?

  • A. Its popularity among young users
  • B. Its high operational costs
  • C. Its potential links to the Chinese government
  • D. Its competition with other US apps

3. What does the 2024 US law require regarding TikTok?

  • A. That it must improve user privacy
  • B. That it must be sold to a non-Chinese owner
  • C. That it must stop operating globally
  • D. That it must share data with the US government

4. What concern remains about the recent TikTok agreement?

  • A. Whether US companies can afford to buy TikTok
  • B. Whether TikTok will lose its popularity
  • C. Whether the algorithm will remain linked to ByteDance
  • D. Whether TikTok will be banned immediately

5. How does the author describe the broader context of the TikTok situation?

  • A. As a minor issue for social media users
  • B. As a reflection of global tensions in technology and politics
  • C. As a simple business transaction
  • D. As an unimportant legal debate