On December 18 (local time), TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi issued an internal memo, shedding light on fresh developments in TikTok's U.S. operations. According to the memo, ByteDance and TikTok have inked a deal with three investors—Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX—to create TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC. This newly formed entity will shoulder the responsibility for data protection, algorithm security, content moderation, and software assurance within the United States. Meanwhile, other TikTok entities in the U.S., which are wholly owned by ByteDance, will persist in handling commercial endeavors such as e-commerce, advertising, and market operations, along with maintaining global connectivity. The implementation of the agreement's terms is slated to be finalized no later than January 22, 2026. Notably, the new joint venture will be predominantly owned by U.S. investors, with ByteDance holding onto a 19.9% stake, thereby retaining its position as the largest individual shareholder.