In September 2025, then-President Trump tentatively approved a deal aimed at resolving national security concerns related to the popular video-sharing app TikTok. However, even after the signing, significant questions lingered about the deal's structure, implementation, and long-term effectiveness. This analysis delves into the key unanswered questions surrounding the agreement.
The Ambiguous Roles of Oracle and Walmart
The deal proposed a partnership involving Oracle and Walmart, ostensibly to address data security and operational concerns. However, the exact nature of their roles remained vague. Were they simply providing cloud infrastructure, or did they have oversight over TikTok's algorithms and content moderation policies? The level of access and control granted to these companies was a crucial point of contention and remained largely undefined.
According to a report by Ben Werschkul, the specifics of how Oracle and Walmart would operate within the new structure were still unknown even after the deal was announced. This lack of clarity raised concerns about whether the arrangement would genuinely mitigate the perceived security risks.
Technical Implementation of Security Measures
A central concern was the security of user data. The deal aimed to ensure that TikTok user data was stored and processed within the United States, presumably under the control of Oracle. However, the technical details of this migration and the specific security protocols in place were not fully disclosed. How would data be transferred? What encryption methods would be used? How would access be controlled and monitored to prevent unauthorized access by the Chinese government or other malicious actors?
Content Moderation and Censorship Concerns
Beyond data security, concerns existed about potential censorship and manipulation of content on TikTok. The deal aimed to ensure that TikTok's algorithms and content moderation policies were transparent and free from undue influence. However, the mechanisms for achieving this transparency and preventing censorship remained unclear. How would the US government or Oracle and Walmart monitor and audit TikTok's content moderation practices? What safeguards would be in place to prevent the suppression of dissenting voices or the promotion of propaganda?
Long-Term Implications for Data Privacy
Even if the deal successfully addressed immediate security concerns, questions remained about the long-term implications for data privacy. How would user data be protected from misuse by Oracle and Walmart? What data retention policies would be in place? Would users have the right to access, correct, or delete their data? The deal needed to address these broader data privacy concerns to ensure that users' rights were protected.
Conclusion
The Trump administration's TikTok deal was a complex and controversial attempt to address national security concerns. While the deal aimed to mitigate risks related to data security and censorship, many crucial details remained unanswered. The success of the deal hinged on clarifying the roles of Oracle and Walmart, implementing robust security measures, ensuring transparent content moderation practices, and protecting user data privacy. Without addressing these unanswered questions, the deal risked being a superficial solution that failed to adequately protect national security and user rights.