President Donald Trump announced a deal this week that could transfer control of TikTok to U.S. investors, but experts say many details remain unclear. The agreement aims to protect the popular app from a potential ban that could have removed it from app stores.

During a press conference in the Oval Office, Vice President J.D. Vance expressed optimism about the deal but acknowledged challenges in negotiations with China. He emphasized the importance of keeping TikTok operational while ensuring the protection of American user data. "This deal really does mean Americans can use TikTok but actually use it with more confidence than they had in the past because their data is secure and it won't be used as a propaganda weapon like it has in the past," Vance stated.

Despite the announcement, significant questions linger regarding the deal's approval from China, the management of the new company, and the future of TikTok's algorithm. Robert Rogowsky, a professor of trade and economic diplomacy, noted, "The uncertainty of the deal remains its primary characteristic."

China has not publicly commented on the agreement, even as Trump claimed that Chinese President Xi Jinping had approved the deal. "To get it done properly, we really needed the support of China and the approval of China," Trump said. However, experts warn that China could still block the deal, complicating the negotiations.

The U.S. Congress previously passed a law requiring TikTok to sever ties with its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or face a ban. The law, which received bipartisan support, provided TikTok a 270-day window to comply. After TikTok challenged the law, the Supreme Court upheld it, citing national security concerns.

Trump's executive order allows U.S. investors to hold a majority stake in TikTok, while ByteDance will retain less than 20%. The deal includes notable investors such as Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell, media mogul Rupert Murdoch, and software giant Oracle. Vance mentioned that the U.S.-based version of TikTok would be valued at $14 billion, although the full list of investors has not been disclosed.

Concerns also center on TikTok's algorithm, which curates content for users. Trump officials stated that the new U.S. owners would control the algorithm, but details about whether it will remain the same or be modified are still unclear. "Is it 'the' algorithm or a newly formed U.S. algorithm formed for the deal?" Rogowsky questioned.

Trump has downplayed fears of political bias in the app, asserting that all users will be treated fairly. "Everyone is going to be treated fairly. Every group, every philosophy, every policy will be treated very fairly," he said.

As the deal progresses, experts and lawmakers are calling for transparency to ensure it meets national security requirements and protects American users from potential foreign influence.