The TikTok and Oracle ‘trusted technology partner’ deal might really happen

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

The short-form video platform is close to a deal that would allow it to store its US users' data without giving access to its Chinese parent company. A dedicated team of engineers and cyber security workers would be in charge of US users' data and would not be under the supervision of TikTok.

The agreement is referred to internally at TikTok as "Project Texas", according to a report. The company will put in place new controls that will restrict access to US user data in Europe. The data and the US-based team are still undecided as to how much access Chinese managers will have to it.

The agreement was put together after Trump ordered a ban on TikTok due to concerns about US users' data being made available to the Chinese government. TikTok in the US was to become atrusted technology partner of Oracle. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS) ordered the parent company of ByteDance to sell its operations in the US.

TikTok appealed both orders. The judge ruled in December 2020 that the Trump administration had overstepped its authority and granted a preliminary injunction. The deal was all but dead after President Biden took office.

According to sources, all of TikTok's US users' data would be stored on Oracle's server as part of the proposed agreement. It is not clear how the agreement would affect the prior order.

TikTok and Oracle didn't reply to requests for comment.