Oracle’s TikTok Takeover Raises Questions About Corporate Pro-Israel Influence

Oracle’s impending acquisition of TikTok’s U.S. operations has drawn scrutiny not only for antitrust and national security concerns but also for the personal and corporate politics of its executives. Statements from Oracle leaders, historical communications, and internal reports suggest a long-standing and explicit pro-Israel stance, raising questions about how this influence might shape TikTok under Oracle ownership.

TikTok Acquisition and Oracle’s Role

TikTok, the social media platform widely used by young Americans, has faced criticism over foreign influence. Oracle, led by CEO Safra Catz, is part of a U.S.-based investor group acquiring the platform’s American assets. The move was framed as a solution to concerns over Chinese control. Yet, Oracle’s public and private expressions of support for Israel indicate that the company’s priorities may extend beyond U.S. security considerations.

Historical communications show that Oracle executives, including co-founder and CTO Larry Ellison, have long been vocal about their personal and professional alignment with Israel. Analysts and observers now question whether Oracle’s stance could influence TikTok’s algorithm, moderation policies, or the platform’s content presentation.

Safra Catz’s Public and Private Support for Israel

Oracle CEO Safra Catz has repeatedly emphasized the company’s commitment to Israel. In 2021, during her first trip outside the U.S. since the pandemic, she told Israeli media outlets that employees who disagreed with Oracle’s pro-Israel mission “may not be the right company” for them.
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Following the Hamas attack in October 2023, Catz instructed Oracle to communicate worldwide support for Israel, placing messages on websites in multiple languages. She described the move as a moral imperative to distinguish “good from evil” and underscored the company’s intention to publicly prioritize Israel above other interests.

Statements from Eran Feigenbaum, head of Oracle Israel, reinforced this perspective. Feigenbaum described Oracle’s support as unparalleled among global companies and suggested that employees who did not align with Israel might find the corporate culture incompatible with their views.

Historical Efforts to Influence U.S. Perceptions

Oracle’s pro-Israel orientation predates these events. In 2015, a leaked email to former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak showed that Catz sought advice on promoting Israel in American culture. She expressed concern over the growing Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement and emphasized the importance of shaping pro-Israel sentiment in the U.S. before students reached college.

Catz also noted her sister, Saritz Catz, a Hollywood writer-producer and pro-Israel activist, was developing a reality show titled Women of the IDF to humanize Israel’s military for American audiences. These communications illustrate a longstanding personal and familial effort to promote pro-Israel messaging.

Internal Corporate Culture and Employee Response

The company’s internal environment reportedly mirrors its public commitments. An anonymous group of Oracle employees created the Substack newsletter Oracle For Palestine^[3] to document what they described as a lack of tolerance for dissenting political views. According to the group, employees who raised concerns about Israel were sometimes referred to the company’s mental health resources instead of having their grievances addressed.

In contrast, other employees have publicly praised the company’s clarity and consistency. Oracle employee Ivan Bassov, writing on the Times of Israel blog, endorsed the company’s approach toward colleagues who questioned Israel, framing internal mental health referrals as appropriate corporate judgment.

Geopolitical and Social Implications

Current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently emphasized TikTok as a key arena for pro-Israel messaging. Oracle’s acquisition places executives with documented pro-Israel stances in a position to shape content on one of the most influential platforms among U.S. youth. While sources indicate that Catz will not be directly managing TikTok’s algorithm, observers worry her track record suggests a potential for indirect influence.

Questions arise about the balance of corporate and national interests: how will Oracle navigate conflicts between U.S. priorities, operations in other countries, and its executive leadership’s personal commitments to Israel? Will the platform allow open discussion and critique of Israeli policies, or will its moderation policies reflect the priorities of its new owners? Oracle has declined to comment on these issues.

Conclusion

Oracle’s acquisition of TikTok raises more than business and national security questions. The historical and ongoing actions of its executives suggest a deliberate strategy to promote pro-Israel messaging on global platforms. How this will manifest under TikTok ownership remains unclear, but the implications for content moderation, algorithmic influence, and employee freedom of expression are significant.

Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools. Image: DIW-Aigen.

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