Newhouse Calls for Congressional Oversight of TikTok Deal

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement on the joint venture deal to acquire TikTok's United States assets. 

"Congress needs to exercise considerable oversight of this deal, and we will need to hear from the Administration about if this agreement truly protects U.S. users’ data and privacy. We are dealing with Communist China on every front and the last thing we need is uncertainty as to how much influence they may have through TikTok’s new algorithm. I will be working closely with Chairman Moolenaar and my colleagues on the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party to make sure this deal follows with the law and protects Americans from our greatest adversary." 

In April 2024, Congress passed legislation forcing TikTok parent company, ByteDance, to sever ties with its U.S. operations. The legislation included a U.S. ban on the application if ByteDance did not comply.  

The President signed the legislation, and the Supreme Court upheld the law after TikTok argued against it in federal court in Washington, D.C. 

Today's deal outlines joint ownership by U.S.-based Oracle and Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based MGX, each owning 15 percent. 35 percent will be owned across eight other private investors. ByteDance will maintain a 19.9 percent stake in U.S. operations under the agreement. 

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