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A first look at Rupert Murdoch's 'California Post,' Amagi tests investor appetite, and merger critics question Netflix's will

Also in our weekly look at all things technology, media and telecom, we ponder Telly's paltry penetration, 'Melania's' tepid tracking and Larry Ellison's (possibly) terrifying TikTok plan

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Daniel Frankel & David Bloom
January 26, 2026

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Did TikTok just become part of Larry Ellison’s grand Orwellian plan?

President Trump’s deal to divest TikTok’s U.S. operations into a domestically controlled joint venture has been completed, the social video platform announced last week.

China’s ByteDance will retain 19.9% of the company’s U.S. spinoff, with Larry Ellison’s Oracle, Abu Dhabi-controlled investment firm MGX and tech-focused private equity outfit Silver Lake each grabbing 15% shares. Other investors, including Michael Dell, will own smaller shares of the rest of the so-called TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC.

While the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, signed into law by former President Joseph Biden in 2024, prohibits ByteDance from having any operational control of TikTok in the U.S., TikTok’s press release makes it clear that ByteDance isn’t stepping away entirely. After all, it still owns the algorithm TikTok is built on, and it’s still the largest individual shareholder.

Does this deal improve the security of Americans?

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