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Oracle Reportedly Eyes TikTok Stake 

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Oracle Reportedly Eyes TikTok Stake 

Oracle Corp. is reportedly in talks with the Trump administration about acquiring a stake in TikTok‘s global operations that could be worth “tens of billions” of dollars, NPR was told by people familiar with the matter who requested anonymity.

The software company and White House officials met on Friday, January 24, to discuss a potential deal that would give U.S. investors majority control of the social media platform, with Chinese ByteDance retaining a minority position. 

Under the proposed arrangement, Oracle would oversee TikTok’s algorithm, data collection, and software updates while providing the foundation for the app’s web infrastructure.

Additional meetings are scheduled for this week as negotiations continue. While ByteDance reportedly values TikTok’s global business at approximately $200 billion, the sources note the final terms remain in flux. 

NPR adds that Microsoft has also engaged in discussions, while Walmart, previously involved in a 2020 takeover attempt, is not currently participating in the talks.

Regulatory Hurdles

The deal faces several regulatory challenges. Under recently passed legislation, TikTok must complete a “qualified divestiture” from ByteDance to continue U.S. operations. While the January 19 deadline has passed, President Trump has issued an executive order to extend it by 75 days.

Congressional approval represents another hurdle. Lawmakers require binding legal agreements ensuring ByteDance cannot covertly manipulate the app. 

A previous security proposal known as Project Texas failed to adequately demonstrate TikTok’s independence from ByteDance, according to a congressional staffer involved in the discussions.

Platform Access Challenges

TikTok currently faces restricted access to major platforms. Apple and Google have removed the app from their stores following a 14-hour service interruption. While Oracle’s infrastructure support has restored TikTok’s services, the platform remains unavailable for download on Apple devices and the Google Play store.

The ban law stipulates that companies supporting TikTok while under ByteDance control could face substantial fines, enforceable one year after Trump’s term. 

NPR reports that Chinese regulators, who historically opposed TikTok’s sale, recently indicated they would not block a deal based on “market principles,” a statement White House negotiators interpret as tacit approval for majority U.S. ownership.

When asked about the Oracle discussions during Air Force One on Saturday, Jan. 25, Trump acknowledged knowing Oracle’s Larry Ellison but denied direct conversations about TikTok, stating only that there is “great interest” in the platform. 

Spokespeople for Microsoft, Walmart, TikTok, Oracle, and the White House declined NPR’s requests for comments on the negotiations.

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David Adler is an entrepreneur and freelance blog post writer who enjoys writing about business, entrepreneurship, travel and the influencer marketing space.

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