January 1, Congress Frets TikTok Deal Letting China Keep Control

Wyatt’s Take

• Congress demands TikTok break from China’s ByteDance or face a ban
• Lawmakers fear a secret deal may let China control TikTok’s algorithm
• The public waits for Trump and Xi to reveal final details

Congress passed a law in 2024 forcing TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, to give up control or risk getting shut down in America.

President Trump has been negotiating with China about TikTok, but lawmakers want to make sure no one breaks the new law.

The government wants to stop the Chinese Communist Party from reaching Americans through TikTok. Ex-employees said ByteDance has sent U.S. data back to China.

Leaders in the House and Senate are worried about reports that ByteDance may still license its powerful algorithm to a new American company. They believe this would let China keep its hand on the app.

“Based on initial reports, I am concerned the reported licensing deal may involve ongoing reliance by the new TikTok on a ByteDance algorithm and application that could allow continued CCP control or influence,” Chairman John Moolenaar said in a statement.

On Monday, Trump indicated a deal between the U.S. and China was close. “The big Trade Meeting in Europe between The United States of America, and China, has gone VERY WELL! It will be concluding shortly,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “A deal was also reached on a ‘certain’ company that young people in our Country very much wanted to save. They will be very happy! I will be speaking to President Xi on Friday. The relationship remains a very strong one!!! President DJT.”

The latest plan would spin off TikTok’s U.S. business to an American-led company, but reports say Chinese negotiators still want some control over the technology.

Wang Jingtao from China’s cyberspace office said ByteDance could license “the algorithm and other intellectual property rights” to the new company, and Beijing would approve exports of such technology.

This could go against the U.S. law, since any deal must fully cut TikTok loose from foreign adversaries. Congress is especially worried about any link to China’s Communist Party or cooperation on TikTok data.

American politicians insist any Chinese connection to TikTok is a non-starter and promise to examine the deal closely.

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Wyatt Matters

Middle America wants to know their voices and information are safe from foreign threats. Standing up to China and protecting our data isn’t about politics—it’s about making sure Americans come first.