US lawmakers say TikTok joint venture deal needs scrutiny from Congress

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Reuters

January 23, 2026 5:08 PM EST Updated 11 hours ago


WASHINGTON, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Some U.S. lawmakers on Friday said a deal by TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance to establish a majority American-owned joint venture to avoid a U.S. ban on the social media app needs scrutiny from Congress.

Representative Jack Moolenaar, the Republican chair of the House select committee on China, said the committee would conduct oversight of the deal finalized Thursday, adding China "cannot be allowed to weaponize an app to divide and weaken our country. Does this deal ensure China does not have influence over the algorithm? Can the parties involved assure Americans their data is secure? Those are questions that need to be answered."

Democratic Senator Ed Markey said the deal left many key questions unanswered. "The White House has provided virtually no details about this agreement, including whether TikTok’s algorithm is truly free of Chinese influence. This lack of transparency reeks," Markey said. "Congress has a responsibility to investigate this deal, demand transparency, and ensure that any arrangement truly protects national security while keeping TikTok online.”

The White House and TikTok did not immediately comment on Markey's criticism. TikTok is used by more than 200 million Americans. ByteDance said TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC would secure U.S. user data, apps and algorithms through data privacy and cybersecurity measures. It disclosed few details about the divestiture.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/senator-says-congress-must-investigate-tiktok-deal-faults-lack-details-2026-01-23/

---

Link to Senator Markey STATEMENT - Senator Markey Statement on TikTok Deal

REFERENCE - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143603433

[ancianita]

1. Scrutiny? A bit late for that. Say they scrutinize TikTok activity. THEN WHAT.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. Until we take control of one or both chambers of Congress

there's not much we can do other than "pound the podium and stamp our feet" and sue.

[ancianita]

3. Yep. That's exactly what I expected. Thanks for the truth of the matter;

since rethugs won't do jack, this is just corporate media "concern news."

[BumRushDaShow]

4. Well not necessarily something to dismiss

because they are doing all the research and other background work and as soon as (D)s "take the gavel", they can just update what they have and go for it. It's never frivolous.

When it comes to legislation, there are some pieces that were drafted a few years before (D)s would take control and when they did, they would have it ready to go.

For example, there is draft legislation, like "H.R. 40", a bill dealing with forming a Commission to study reparations for AAs. John Conyers first introduced it in 1989 and every year since, either he (until 2017), or someone else (to date), would update it and reintroduce it.

The current one from the House (Ayanna Pressley) H.R.40 - Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act

The 2021 version actually made it out of Committee - House Lawmakers Advance Historic Bill To Form Reparations Commission

So the framework of things like this got developed and updated during times when we were both in the majority and not, and similar is happening right now with (D)s out of power, but who are gathering info through inquiry letters to various entities (which are not just "sternly worded letters" as they are denigrated, but information gathering tools, where responses to questions are demanded with deadlines). These along with hearings, will form the basis for future legislation.

[ancianita]

5. Fair point.

I realize how our side is ready to go, from old/new laws to structural changes, to agency restructuring, personnel, and administrative priorites for the cabinet, since we'll be the only party to actually make a transition of power happen. As it was with Biden, so it will be with whoever on our side is next.

[snot]

6. Look at who the new owners are:

"[T]here is now concern that the app’s recommendations could take a right-leaning slant under US control.

"'Trump has already said that he’d like to see TikTok go "100 percent MAGA," and his allies will now be in charge of 'deciding which posts to leave up and which to take down,' the NYT noted. Anupam Chander, a law and technology professor at Georgetown University, told the NYT that the TikTok deal offered Trump and his allies 'more theoretical room for one side’s views to get a greater airing.'

"'My worry all along is that we may have traded fears of foreign propaganda for the reality of domestic propaganda,' Chander said.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/01/tiktok-finalizes-trump-deal-that-allows-bytedance-to-maintain-some-control/