What's happened
As of September 28, 2025, former President Donald Trump confirmed that Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch, alongside Oracle's Larry Ellison and Michael Dell, are part of a U.S. investor group set to acquire TikTok's American operations. The deal aims for majority American ownership and control over TikTok's data and algorithm, with a deadline to finalize details by December 16, 2025.
What's behind the headline?
Strategic Media Consolidation
The involvement of Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch in the TikTok US deal signals a significant consolidation of media and technology influence under a group of conservative-aligned billionaires. This move will likely extend their reach from traditional cable TV into the dominant social media platform among younger Americans.
National Security and Political Calculations
The deal is framed as a national security measure to prevent Chinese government influence over American user data and content algorithms. However, the selection of investors closely tied to former President Trump and conservative media raises questions about the political motivations behind the deal.
Economic and Technological Control
Oracle's role in storing data and auditing TikTok's algorithm places a major cloud computing and software company at the heart of content moderation and data security. This could set a precedent for how foreign-owned tech platforms are managed in the US.
Forecast and Impact
The deal will likely reshape TikTok's governance and content policies, aligning them more closely with American political and economic interests. The December 16 deadline pressures all parties to finalize terms, with potential ripple effects on US-China tech relations and broader trade negotiations.
User and Market Implications
For TikTok's 170 million US users, the transition may affect content visibility and data privacy. Investors stand to gain financially from controlling a platform with massive influence over youth culture and political discourse.
What the papers say
Dan Whateley of Business Insider UK details the investor group, highlighting Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX as primary backers, with Larry Ellison's Oracle already managing US user data since 2023. The Guardian's Sam Levine and John Bowden emphasize the Murdochs' involvement and the political context, noting Trump's praise for the investors as "American patriots" and the strategic importance of controlling TikTok's algorithm and data. The Japan Times and Bloomberg report Fox Corporation's potential investment, led by Lachlan Murdoch, as part of the US government's orchestrated deal. TechCrunch and AP News provide insights into the deal's structure, including the planned seven-member board with six Americans and Oracle's role in security. The New York Post and The Independent explore the political delays and Trump's motivations, including his crediting TikTok for aiding his 2024 campaign and the ongoing negotiations with China, underscoring the deal's complexity and high stakes. Together, these sources paint a picture of a politically charged, high-profile transaction blending technology, media, and national security concerns.
How we got here
In response to national security concerns over TikTok's Chinese ownership, the U.S. passed legislation in 2024 requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok's American operations or face a ban. The Trump administration has delayed enforcement multiple times while negotiating a sale to U.S. investors, aiming to secure American control over data and algorithms.
Go deeper
- Who exactly are the investors taking control of TikTok US?
- What role will Oracle play in TikTok's data and algorithm management?
- How does this deal affect TikTok users in the United States?
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Who Are the Murdochs and Why Are They Investing in TikTok?
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What does the TikTok US deal mean for user data and social media?
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Lachlan Keith Murdoch is an Australian–British and American businessman and mass media heir. He is the executive chairman of Nova Entertainment, co-chairman of News Corp, executive chairman and CEO of the Fox Corporation, the founder of Australian inves
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Keith Rupert Murdoch, AC, KCSG is an Australian-born American media mogul who founded News Corp. He is the son of Keith Murdoch, one time senior executive of Australia's Herald & Weekly Times publishing company.
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
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TikTok/Douyin is a Chinese video-sharing social networking service owned by ByteDance, a Beijing-based Internet technology company founded in 2012 by Zhang Yiming.
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Lawrence Joseph Ellison is an American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist who is a co-founder and the executive chairman and chief technology officer of Oracle Corporation.
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Michael Saul Dell is an American billionaire businessman and philanthropist. He is the founder, chairman and CEO of Dell Technologies, one of the world's largest technology infrastructure companies.
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a16z Capital Management, L.L.C. (commonly known as Andreessen Horowitz, or a16z) is an American privately-held venture capital firm headquartered in Menlo Park, California, United States. It was founded in 2009 in Nevada by Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowit
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Xi Jinping is a Chinese politician serving as the general secretary of the Communist Party of China, president of the People's Republic of China, and chairman of the Central Military Commission.
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ByteDance Ltd. is a Chinese multinational internet technology company headquartered in Beijing. It was founded by Zhang Yiming in 2012. ByteDance is reportedly worth over US$100 billion as of May 2020.
ByteDance's core product, Toutiao, is a content platf
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Oracle Corporation is an American multinational computer technology corporation headquartered in Redwood Shores, California. The company sells database software and technology, cloud engineered systems, and enterprise software products—particularly its