TikTok US Ban Could (Finally) Be Close to Ending

The saga of TikTok’s future in the United States has been a long-running drama. That said, recent reports suggest a significant breakthrough is finally on the horizon. Despite a “divest-or-ban” law officially in effect since January, TikTok has remarkably only experienced a single day of service interruption in the US. Now, it appears that the end of the US TikTok ban could be near thanks to a comprehensive agreement that will satisfy legal requirements.

According to a fresh report from The Information, a potential sale is close. But not only that, as the deal would also involve a brand-new app.

A sale—and a new app—could help end the TikTok US ban soon

For years, US authorities have expressed national security concerns about TikTok’s ownership by China-based ByteDance. They focused on user data privacy and potential foreign influence. The “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act” aimed to force a change, pushing TikTok to either divest its US operations or face a ban.

Now, according to The Information, the Trump administration indicates it is nearing a deal for a sale to a group of “non-Chinese” investors. The list includes such prominent names as tech giant Oracle. Crucially, current owner ByteDance would reportedly maintain only a minority stake. This structure will allow TikTok to meet the stipulations of the Act.

Such a complex deal, however, still hinges on approval from the Chinese government.

A new TikTok app already in development for the US

Adding another layer to this situation is the development of a completely separate version of the app. Internally dubbed “M2” (while the current app is “M”), TikTok staff are reportedly working diligently to launch this new iteration in app stores by September 5th. This new app could effectively replace the original TikTok in the US. The original TikTok app would leave app stores upon M2’s launch. However, it will remain functional until March 2026.

This strategic separation appears to be key to addressing data security concerns. It could take advantage of partnerships like Oracle’s recently announced federal government agreement for cloud infrastructure.

The latest extensions to the ban deadline will expire in mid-September. Now, this potential dual approach of a sale combined with a re-engineered app offers a clearer path forward to a definitive end to the TikTok ban in the US. Undoubtedly, this reported maneuver is complex. After all, the Chinese government will also have to be involved in the decision. However, the deal could finally allow the wildly popular platform to continue its operations, securing user data and satisfying government demands, without facing an outright ban. Plus, ByteDance would continue to hold part of the shares in the US branch.