Under the January 2026 divestiture, ByteDance retained ownership of TikTok’s core recommendation algorithm intellectual property, according to Will Farrell’s prepared testimony submitted to the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party. Farrell, TikTok’s U.S. Chief Security Officer, explained that while TikTok’s U.S. operations were spun off into TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, ByteDance did not transfer or surrender ownership of the underlying algorithm architecture, which is built on ByteDance’s proprietary Monolith framework.

Under the January 2026 restructuring created TikTok USDS as a joint venture in which ByteDance holds a 19.9% stake, with the remainder owned by U.S. and allied investors, according to congressional letters and public disclosures.

The January 2026 restructuring created TikTok USDS as a joint venture in which ByteDance holds a 19.9% stake, with the remainder owned by U.S. and allied investors, according to congressional letters and public disclosures. Although TikTok USDS employees are responsible for reviewing the algorithm’s source code and retraining the recommendation engine on U.S. user data stored in Oracle’s American cloud infrastructure, the intellectual property rights to the algorithm’s architecture, evaluation criteria, and training methodology remain with ByteDance. Farrell’s testimony emphasized that TikTok USDS licenses the recommendation algorithm from ByteDance rather than owning it outright.

Farrell distinguished between the algorithm’s architecture and its parameters, noting that TikTok USDS retrains the model’s numerical weights exclusively on U.S.-based user data, while ByteDance retains control over the design and framework of the system. Oracle serves as a “trusted security partner,” auditing compliance with national security requirements and monitoring how U.S. data is used in the retraining process. Despite these safeguards, the retention of the algorithm’s intellectual property by ByteDance has raised concerns among lawmakers about whether the divestiture effectively removed Chinese control or influence over TikTok’s core technology.

Congressional scrutiny has focused on the potential for ByteDance, as a Chinese company subject to Chinese intelligence laws, to exert ongoing influence through its ownership of the algorithm architecture. Analysts cited in coverage of Farrell’s testimony note that Chinese law obligates companies like ByteDance to cooperate with intelligence services upon request, a legal requirement that persists despite the U.S. restructuring. This has fueled questions about whether ByteDance could modify or update the algorithm remotely, potentially affecting content prioritization on the U.S. platform.

The House Select Committee is expected to explore how U.S. user data flows within the joint venture and whether technical interfaces exist between TikTok USDS and ByteDance-controlled systems. These inquiries build on earlier congressional efforts, including letters dating back to November 2021 that demanded detailed information about TikTok’s algorithm, especially regarding its recommendations to younger users and management of harmful content. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew previously testified before Congress in March 2023, denying allegations that TikTok shares U.S. user data with the Chinese government, while acknowledging that Beijing-based employees had technical access to U.S. data at that time.

The January 2026 divestiture followed TikTok’s $1.5 billion “Project Texas” initiative, which aimed to segregate U.S. user data from Chinese operations by storing data exclusively in Oracle’s U.S. cloud infrastructure. Farrell’s testimony reiterated that all U.S. user data used for retraining the recommendation model is confined to systems under TikTok USDS and Oracle, with legal and technical barriers designed to prevent access by ByteDance’s China-based operations. Senator Edward Markey’s letter highlighted company pledges that TikTok USDS would conduct source code reviews to detect any “Chinese manipulation” of the algorithm.

Despite these measures, public documentation indicates that TikTok USDS has provided limited updates on the implementation timeline or technical details of these safeguards since the divestiture. The ongoing congressional investigation, including the hearing on September 15, 2026, aims to clarify the extent of ByteDance’s retained control over TikTok’s recommendation technology and the implications for U.S. national security.

The petition, registered as No. 41/010384‑26ep on the Cabinet of Ministers website, calls for urgent measures to restrict and block TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance across Ukraine. It argues that TikTok poses a direct threat to national security by serving as a platform for disinformation, propaganda, and data security risks, according to the petition text. The petition highlights concerns that Russian special services use TikTok extensively to spread disinformation aimed at dividing Ukrainian society, discrediting the Armed Forces, and undermining mobilization efforts.

Since its submission on June 10, 2024, the Cabinet petition has gathered nearly 11,000 signatures within days, though it still falls short of the 25,000 signatures required for official government consideration.

The signature collection period is set to last three months from the petition’s launch date, according to records from the Cabinet website.

The petition also raises concerns about TikTok’s algorithmic vulnerabilities, claiming they can be artificially manipulated to promote hostile content. It warns that the platform facilitates the leakage of sensitive information, including videos and geolocation data, which could be exploited by enemy forces. The petition emphasizes that ByteDance’s ownership by a Chinese company presents additional risks. It cites China’s collaboration with Russia in the ongoing conflict and Chinese laws permitting data collection for intelligence purposes, which could enable the transfer of Ukrainian users’ personal data to foreign intelligence services.

In response to these risks, the petition urges the Cabinet of Ministers to initiate consideration by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) of special economic and other restrictive measures against ByteDance and TikTok. It also requests that the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection develop technical mechanisms to block access to TikTok nationwide. Furthermore, the petition calls for legislative amendments to prohibit TikTok use on devices belonging to civil servants, military personnel, and workers in critical infrastructure sectors.

Parallel to this Cabinet petition, a separate petition was registered on March 24, 2024, on the President of Ukraine’s electronic petitions website by Nataliia Karaseva. This petition advocates banning TikTok “at least for the period of war in Ukraine,” citing the platform’s role in disseminating extensive Russian propaganda. As of March 27, 2024, it had received 1,935 signatures, with 90 days remaining to reach the threshold of 25,000 signatures needed for presidential consideration.

Political reactions have been cautious but acknowledge the petitions’ concerns. Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Freedom of Speech, told Radio Liberty that Ukraine might impose sanctions to ban TikTok if the platform continues to ignore Russian propaganda. However, he noted that “as of now the government sees no need to ban TikTok,” indicating that a full ban is not official policy. Yurchyshyn also stated in an interview with RBC-Ukraine that Ukraine is monitoring developments in the United States, where TikTok restrictions are under discussion, and could consider similar measures, though enforcement challenges remain.

Media reports indicate that while legislative work is underway to regulate social media and messenger services, including TikTok, it is unclear whether concrete plans exist to implement a full ban. Forbes Ukraine reported that separate legislation is being developed to impose new regulations on platforms like TikTok, but details have not been finalized.

In addition to national security and wartime propaganda concerns, another petition on the presidential platform calls for banning TikTok due to harmful content for children and youth. This petition argues that TikTok’s content negatively affects Ukrainian children and young people, contributing to a broader societal and moral debate about the platform’s impact.

Together, these petitions illustrate a multifaceted public campaign addressing national security, wartime propaganda, and child protection as reasons to ban TikTok. As of the latest updates, none of the petitions have reached the 25,000-signature threshold required for mandatory consideration by top state authorities, but they continue to accumulate support and attract media attention.

Ofcom’s investigation will focus on whether TikTok has met its legal duties under Section 12 of the Online Safety Act 2023, which requires online platforms to identify, manage and mitigate risks of harm to children. Officials said the probe will assess if TikTok has taken adequate steps to prevent children from encountering harmful content as far as reasonably practicable. The regulator is scrutinizing TikTok’s use of “age assurance” measures, including its reliance on “age inference” technology, which estimates user age based on behaviour such as videos watched and interactions rather than verified documents, according to Ofcom’s public statement.

A recent Ofcom report raised concerns about the effectiveness of TikTok’s age inference model, suggesting it may not reliably prevent younger children from accessing harmful material.

Ofcom has previously found that TikTok and other platforms largely depend on users self-declaring their age at sign-up, which can be easily circumvented by underage users entering false birthdates. The regulator requires social media companies to deploy “highly effective” age-check methods, and assessing whether TikTok’s current systems meet this standard forms a key part of the investigation.

Ofcom’s scrutiny follows its May 2023 review, which concluded that TikTok was “not safe enough” for children and called for stronger protections. Kate Davies, Ofcom’s group director for strategy and research, said the regulator had found age-check methods used by social media platforms “not working well enough,” specifically citing TikTok. A separate Ofcom report on video-sharing platforms noted that while TikTok, Snap and Twitch take steps to prevent children from encountering harmful videos, children still face risks. The report highlighted TikTok’s practice of labelling content as unsuitable for under-18s but warned that without robust access controls, children remain vulnerable to harmful material.

TikTok has responded by stating it is “confident that we meet our Online Safety Act obligations and will work with Ofcom to demonstrate it,” according to a company spokesperson. The platform maintains that its existing safety measures and systems for children are robust, a position reiterated following earlier Ofcom critiques. TikTok offers parental controls, including family-pairing tools that allow parents and carers to oversee children’s activity, features that Ofcom has identified in its transparency work on child safety. The company also accepted Ofcom’s findings in a separate enforcement case concerning inaccurate safety-data reporting and settled the case, which resulted in a reduced financial penalty.

That enforcement action began in December 2023, when Ofcom opened an investigation into whether TikTok had failed to comply with its duty to provide information following a formal request about parental-control features. Ofcom subsequently found TikTok had provided inaccurate information and delayed reporting, which disrupted publication of its child-safety transparency report. The regulator fined TikTok £1.875 million for these failings, with the penalty to be transferred to HM Treasury. Ofcom noted the fine included a 25% reduction because TikTok accepted the findings and settled the case, demonstrating the regulator’s willingness to impose formal sanctions.

The investigation comes amid wider UK government efforts to enhance online child safety. Last month, the government announced plans to ban under-16s from using a range of social media platforms, including TikTok, starting next year. The consultation on this ban is scheduled to conclude on May 26, with a formal government response expected in the summer. Ofcom’s ongoing evidence gathering and enforcement work are feeding into this policy process.

On March 12, 2026, Ofcom issued legally binding information requests to TikTok and other platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Roblox, Snapchat and YouTube, seeking details on their measures to protect children under the Online Safety Act. Parallel reports from Ofcom have highlighted that while TikTok, Snap and Twitch allow sign-ups from age 13 and use AI and moderation tools to enforce age restrictions, the effectiveness of these measures remains unproven. Records show that these platforms continue to rely heavily on self-declared ages and that children can still be exposed to harmful content despite existing safeguards.

Franco’s TikTok account, @jamesfranco2319, began posting a series of black-and-white videos around June 3, 2026, depicting what he described as an alien presence in his garage. In the videos, the 48-year-old actor claimed to have seen glowing eyes and a hand while painting in his garage at night, which he said was not an animal and caused him to flee. He repeatedly promised to return and film the entity clearly to prove its existence, but as of late June, no definitive footage of the alleged alien has been produced, according to multiple media reports.

The videos have drawn significant attention on TikTok, rapidly amassing approximately 700,000 followers, with viewers divided over their authenticity.

Some commentators and viewers have called the footage fake or a publicity stunt, while others treat the narrative as a genuine mystery. Several analysis videos have pointed out that Franco wears the same blue T-shirt with yellow tape and the handwritten name “Bruce Robinson” in nearly all clips, suggesting the videos were filmed in one or a few sessions. The repeated use of the number 2319, which Franco highlights in the videos and writes on paper, has been linked by commentators to the animated film *Monsters, Inc.*, where it denotes a contamination alert code, implying a symbolic reference to contact with a non-human entity.

Franco has addressed online speculation directly in his posts, insisting “I am not AI” and emphasizing that the videos are not artificially generated. He denied that the content is a hoax or promotional material, stating he is “not promoting anything” and that the footage captures something real and serious. He also told viewers that he is being watched or followed and warned that if he disappears, viewers would “know what happened.” Despite these assertions, media outlets and experts have expressed skepticism, noting the lack of any clear alien reveal and the consistent visual motifs as indicators of a staged performance.

The timing of Franco’s return to social media and the alien-themed videos has prompted speculation that the series could be a marketing campaign connected to his upcoming film *Love Meets in the Sunshine*. However, Franco has repeatedly denied any promotional intent. The film’s director, Christian Guiton, stated in a TikTok video that the project is a drama about a terminally ill man on a road trip, with no science fiction or conspiracy elements, and that the alien videos are not related to the film’s promotion.

Several wellness checks were reportedly conducted by concerned followers and acquaintances, reflecting worries about Franco’s mental health amid the erratic and cryptic nature of the videos. Analysts examining body language and behavior described Franco’s delivery as strange and performative, debating whether it indicates acting, distress, or calculated ambiguity. A detailed breakdown video concluded there is no alien in Franco’s garage, interpreting the narrative as performance art using the alien as a metaphor for Hollywood trauma, paranoia, and feelings of invasion.

As of late June 2026, no independent verification of any extraterrestrial presence connected to Franco’s home has been reported. The entire narrative remains confined to Franco’s TikTok posts and self-reported claims. The actor’s return to social media follows a roughly seven-year absence after his career was affected by misconduct allegations in the 2010s. His sudden reemergence and the unusual content of his posts have generated extensive discussion, memes, and theory videos across TikTok and other platforms, fueling ongoing public and media interest.

WSC Sports’ AI-powered platform automatically analyzes live sports broadcasts to generate real-time video highlights, interviews and other short-form content, then delivers them directly into TikTok’s environment for creator-ready publishing, officials said. The integration enables rights holders—including leagues, teams and broadcasters—to scale content production and distribute clips through both official TikTok accounts and independent creators.

According to WSC Sports, the technology can increase the volume of short-form highlights by up to 10 times and improve creative video efficiency by 12 times without compromising quality.

The system works by ingesting broadcast feeds, auto-tagging key moments, and cutting clips that are pushed into TikTok in real time or near-real time, sources confirmed. This workflow drastically reduces manual editing time, allowing rights holders to deliver timely moments to fans while games are still in progress. WSC Sports has developed a direct technical integration with TikTok, making it possible for clips to be published with TikTok-native features such as filters and effects. This approach mirrors WSC Sports’ existing end-to-end solutions for platforms like Instagram, which include indexing, tagging, cropping and auto-publishing, according to company records.

Rights holders benefit from the platform’s ability to create a diverse library of TikTok-ready clips from live game action, pre- and post-game interviews, player arrivals and other content types. The Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL), for example, uses WSC Sports’ AI-driven system to streamline social media content distribution across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, officials said. TPBL also runs a “partnering with creators” program that grants vetted content creators access to official league footage generated by WSC Sports, enabling them to publish videos on their own TikTok channels. This program aims to maximize audience reach by allowing creators to remix, comment on or provide alternative perspectives on rights-controlled clips.

The partnership also supports personalized fan engagement by enabling rights holders to tailor content feeds by player, team, moment type or language, according to WSC Sports and TikTok sources. This personalization helps ensure fans receive timely and relevant sports highlights in their TikTok For You feeds, enhancing engagement beyond sporadic manual uploads. By connecting official rights feeds to TikTok, rights holders can seed moments that creators reference, extending the reach of content beyond official accounts.

Commercial opportunities for rights holders on TikTok are enhanced by the integration, which allows embedding branded elements, sponsor logos and graphic overlays into automated highlights before publication, company officials said. This capability aligns with TikTok’s broader monetization strategies, such as the platform’s Preferred Platform deal with FIFA for the 2026 World Cup, where official media partners can live-stream matches, post curated clips and monetize coverage through TikTok’s premium advertising solutions. WSC Sports’ ability to scale highlight production supports increased ad inventory and sponsorship integration on TikTok.

TikTok’s content chief has noted that individuals are 42% more likely to watch live matches after viewing sports-related content on the platform, underscoring the value of automated pipelines that connect rights holders’ footage to creator output, according to public statements. The partnership with WSC Sports fits into TikTok’s broader strategy to serve as a central distribution and engagement platform for sports rights holders. Similar deals with the Esports World Cup Foundation and Tencent-linked rights for leagues such as the NBA, NFL and English Premier League illustrate TikTok’s emphasis on real-time, creator-friendly content flows.

WSC Sports’ multi-platform architecture supports simultaneous output to websites, apps and social media channels with over 100 million users and subscribers, a scale demonstrated in its Tencent partnership, officials said. This infrastructure enables TikTok to deliver a steady stream of automated, personalized sports content that can engage millions of fans worldwide. The collaboration between TikTok and WSC Sports represents an evolution in how sports rights holders distribute content, combining AI-driven automation with creator ecosystem programs to expand reach and fan engagement on one of the world’s largest social media platforms.

TikTok rolled out new teen safety defaults and nighttime screen limits on Wednesday in the United States and European Union. The changes, which include private profiles by default for users under 16 and a “wind down” feature after 10 p.m., aim to address regulatory concerns about minors’ online safety, according to company officials.

The company also restricts direct messaging, allowing only users 16 and older to send messages, with messaging turned off by default for 16- and 17-year-olds who must opt in to enable it. Video downloads from teen accounts are disabled by default for users aged 13 to 15, requiring explicit permission from the teen or a parent to allow downloads. Comment settings are similarly restricted, with most users aged 13 to 15 limited to comments from “Friends” rather than “Everyone,” according to TikTok’s announcements.

TikTok’s new teen safety defaults include setting profiles to private by default for users under 16, limiting their content visibility to approved followers unless the setting is changed, officials said.

In addition to these defaults, TikTok introduced a nighttime “wind down” feature that activates for users under 16 after 10 p.m., interrupting the For You feed with a full-screen prompt accompanied by calming music. If teens continue using the app, a second, more persistent full-screen message appears to encourage them to stop. The company also offers a Sleep reminders tool, which lets teens and parents set a bedtime start time; for teens, the default end time is fixed at eight hours later and cannot be changed, according to TikTok’s safety documentation. Through Family Pairing, parents can further manage their child’s TikTok use by scheduling “Time away” periods and push notification schedules to block access during designated times such as nighttime or school hours.

Family Pairing links a parent’s account with their teen’s, enabling adults to manage screen time, content limits, privacy settings, and nighttime use from their own devices, officials said. Parents initiate pairing by accessing Settings and privacy, selecting Family Pairing, and choosing the parent role; teens then scan a QR code or accept a link to connect accounts. Once linked, parents can set daily screen time limits that vary by day of the week, allowing for more or less usage on weekends or other days. They can also block TikTok access during specific periods, including night hours, school time, or family events. Content preferences can be adjusted to enable Restricted Mode, keyword filters, and a specialized STEM feed, while push notifications can be scheduled to remain off during certain hours.

TikTok’s teen privacy and safety settings impose stricter default controls on interactions for users under 18, particularly those aged 13 to 15. Duet and Stitch features are either disabled or limited to friends for younger teens, reducing the reuse of their content by strangers. The platform also restricts who can mention or tag teen users in videos and comments, with tighter defaults for younger users to minimize unwanted attention. Restricted Mode, which can be activated and passcode-protected, aims to limit exposure to inappropriate content. Keyword filters allow blocking up to 100 specific words or hashtags from appearing in feeds, supplemented by an optional Smart filter to catch related variations, according to TikTok’s safety resources.

TikTok maintains a dedicated Teen Safety Center and Youth Portal that provide tools, guides, and educational materials focused on privacy, reporting abuse, and digital wellbeing. Users can access these resources through Settings and privacy under Support and Safety Center. The company promotes educational content emphasizing that “accounts for teens start with safety,” including official videos explaining default private accounts and available safety tools. For teen creators, Creator Care Mode automatically filters inappropriate, offensive, or previously reported comments on their content to enhance their control over interactions.

Notification controls are also a key component of TikTok’s teen safety measures. Parents can use Family Pairing to configure push notification schedules that disable alerts during selected hours, commonly to prevent late-night disturbances. Teens and parents can also manage notifications within the teen’s account settings, turning off push notifications entirely or creating time-based schedules without Family Pairing. TikTok commits to age-appropriate notification practices in the European Union by reducing or disabling certain notifications for younger users during nighttime hours to support healthier sleep habits. These notification tools complement the wind down prompts and Sleep reminders to collectively reduce nighttime screen time for minors.

The rollout of these features comes amid increasing regulatory scrutiny in both the European Union and the United States over minors’ privacy, mental health, and the addictive design of social media platforms. TikTok frames its teen protections within compliance expectations under EU online safety and data protection rules, which emphasize “safety by design” for minors, according to the company’s EU Online Safety teen page. In the U.S., lawmakers and regulators have raised concerns about youth mental health, excessive screen time, and data collection on minors, prompting TikTok to highlight screen-time limits, nighttime wind-down prompts, and parental controls as part of its response. Company officials stated that the new Time Away and nighttime features provide caregivers with more control over when teens can access TikTok, addressing public and regulatory concerns about excessive and late-night use.

TikTok users sparked the “Never Dancing to Hannah Montana” meme this week by recreating the Hoedown Throwdown dance from *Hannah Montana: The Movie* in a series of videos. According to choreographer Jamal Sims, the meme features transitions based on his original choreography performed by Miley Cyrus, which users adapted into group performances as part of the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Dance trend.

The meme centers on dance transitions inspired by Jamal Sims’ original choreography for *Hannah Montana: The Movie*, performed by Miley Cyrus in the 2009 film. Sims choreographed the Hoedown Throwdown routine, which includes a distinctive sequence of moves starting with the count-in “five, six, seven, eight,” followed by “pop it, lock it, per dot it, contra, hip hop it,” according to a detailed tutorial video posted on YouTube. The choreography continues with steps such as “put your hawk in the sky, side to side, jump to the left, stick it,” finishing with “three claps, one two three” and a “walk around for four counts,” as outlined in the instructional footage.

The TikTok meme, titled “Never Dancing to Hannah Montana,” features users recreating these transitions in group performances.

The trend is part of the larger Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Dance celebration, which has attracted approximately 14,000 views on related videos, according to records from the meme’s producers. The videos prominently feature dancers Chrissy, Jessica, Jess, Camille, Bella, Megan, Georgie, Cassie, Kelsey, and Jackie. Jackie, who produces the “Dance Meme Serie” focused on Hannah Montana dances, is credited with organizing the group performances and posting the meme series on social media platforms.

The choreography’s accessibility is emphasized in the beginner-friendly tutorial, which breaks down the routine into manageable segments starting with the initial counts and progressing to more complex moves at specific timestamps, such as “per dot it, contra, then hip hop it” at 4 minutes and 19 seconds, and “place that right leg down” before the claps at 7 minutes and 54 seconds. The final sequence of claps and walking steps is demonstrated at 8 minutes and 3 seconds. These instructional details have helped TikTok users replicate the dance with accuracy, contributing to the meme’s viral spread.

The original choreography was confirmed by Sims in his official tutorial video, while the meme videos feature lead performers Chrissy, Jessica, Jess, and Camille, with additional dancers Bella, Megan, Georgie, Cassie, and Kelsey participating in group segments. Production credits for the meme series go to Jackie, who maintains a presence on Twitter under the handle @jackiecelona. Other notable contributors include Jessica Celona (@JessicaCelona) and Chrissy Celona (@ccelona), who also appear in the videos. The meme’s online presence extends to Facebook through the page linked to JrcPr0ductions and to YouTube, where the dance series is available for subscription and viewing.

Visual media supporting the meme includes GIFs of the Hoedown Throwdown dance hosted on Tenor, facilitating sharing across conversational apps, and short-form clips that showcase the full routine. One such clip, titled “Hannah Montana dance – Hoedown Throwdowm,” has garnered 950 dislikes and 19 shares, indicating mixed reception but sustained engagement. The meme series video “Hoedown throwdown,” produced by JrcPr0ductions, further documents the trend’s growth on social media platforms.

The “Never Dancing to Hannah Montana” meme revives choreography from a 2009 film through modern digital platforms, reflecting ongoing interest in the Hannah Montana franchise during its 20th anniversary. While official TikTok statistics for the trend are not publicly available, the meme’s popularity is evident through YouTube views and social media interactions. The group synchronization of claps, walks, and signature “hawk” moves remains a focal point of the performances, preserving the original choreography’s structure within the viral adaptations.