The future of TikTok is at a crucial juncture: control of its algorithm — the platform’s heart — may be transferred to Oracle, a company closely linked to pro-Israel lobbyists stateside.
This move is being presented as a national security measure, but in reality, it raises much broader questions: who is shaping the digital agenda, what political interests are behind it, and how will it impact freedom of speech in a era deemed ‘America First.’
Legal Basis: Forced “Branch”
It all began with the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA), passed in the U.S., which requires companies controlled by “foreign adversaries” to sell their U.S. operations or exit the market. This primarily concerned ByteDance and TikTok because of ‘Chinese influence.’
Therefore, ByteDance agreed to transfer control of its algorithm. Under the terms of the deal, TikTok will license its recommendation engine to a new U.S. joint venture, and its adaptation will be managed by Oracle.
Why Oracle?
Oracle’s choice is no coincidence.
The company actively invests in Israel, collaborating on technology and infrastructure, positioning itself as a “bridge” between American and Israeli interests. Therefore, ties raise concerns that TikTok’s algorithm could be used in the U.S. not only to protect “national security” but also to advance a particular geopolitical agenda.
Yet tensions intensified after TikTok appointed Erica Mindel, a former IDF soldier and supporter of pro-Israel initiatives, to lead its content policy and anti-hate speech efforts in 2025. This signaled that the ideological emphasis of content moderation could shift.
Critics speculate that the new management structure could lead to “shadow censorship,” particularly of pro-Palestinian speech.
Algorithm: A Instrument of Power
TikTok’s algorithm is more than just code.
The code determines which videos go viral, which topics gain prominence, and which remain obscured. Handing over control to Oracle means that the American version of TikTok could become a separate ecosystem, distinct from the global version.
While ByteDance will formally retain ownership of the original algorithm, in the U.S. it will be “retrained” exclusively using local data.
Under the supervision of Oracle and the new board of directors (six of whose seven members will be American), decisions will be made on which stories to promote and which to restrict.
Risks of the New Algorithm
Transferring control over the algorithm poses numerous risks:
- Censorship under ‘Security’: there are concerns that critical speech about Israel or American foreign policy could be systematically suppressed.
- User Distrust: if audiences notice bias or “manually manipulated” content, this could trigger a mass exodus to competitors.
- Legal Conflicts: the U.S. has a strong tradition of protecting free speech, and lawsuits over censorship could become inevitable.
- Global Reputational Damage: if TikTok in the U.S. becomes a “special version,” it will raise questions in Europe and Asia about the platform’s reliability and independence.
What is Next?
The TikTok situation reflects a global shift: control over algorithms has become a matter of geopolitics even for supposed democracies.
Now, it’s not just how the American version of TikTok will operate that matters and whether society can develop mechanisms to oversee those who control it.
Possible Steps:
- Algorithm Transparency: publish reports and conduct independent audits.
- Protect Minorities: create procedures for appealing removed or restricted content.
- Develop Alternatives: support decentralised platforms as “free spaces.”
- Strengthen Digital Rights Laws: users should know why they are being shown certain content.
- Media Literacy: understanding that any feed is a product of an algorithm, and control over it equals control over perception.
China and Europe React to U.S. Control of TikTok
The transfer of control of TikTok’s algorithm to the American company Oracle has provoked a wary reaction from Beijing.
For China, algorithms are strategic resources: key to “digital sovereignty.” Therefore, the export of such technologies is a serious threat to Chinese national security.
Analysts speculate that China may impose restrictive measures against American companies or tighten control over its platforms to protect intellectual property.
In Europe, the situation is different. The EU is also monitoring TikTok, but its focus is on the Digital Services Act: algorithmic transparency, user rights, and the fight against disinformation. The U.S., on the other hand, takes a more geopolitical approach, focusing on security and influence. Thus, the same platform faces different regulatory and political priorities.
The TikTok deal in the U.S. isn’t just a matter of business or even national security; it is a question of who controls information flows in the age of algorithms. If control truly shifts to entities with pronounced pro-Israeli interests, it will be an example of how American politics and liberties are just a mirage under the current administration.
The TikTok algorithm in the U.S. will become a battleground for meaning, for free speech, and for who will govern the digital narratives of the future.
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