Trump administration ‘debating whether to allow Tencent to keep its game company investments’

March 5, 2026 - 03:31

The Trump administration is actively debating whether to compel the Chinese tech giant Tencent to sell off its ownership stakes in prominent U.S. video game companies, including the maker of the global phenomenon Fortnite. This internal discussion centers on escalating national security concerns regarding the data handling practices of Chinese-owned apps and platforms.

Tencent holds significant investments across the gaming industry, most notably a 40% stake in Epic Games. While a potential executive order is not yet finalized, the deliberations signal a possible broadening of U.S. actions against Chinese technology firms. Previous measures have primarily targeted companies like Huawei and the social media app TikTok.

Officials are reportedly examining the risks associated with the vast amounts of personal data collected through gaming platforms. The concern is that this information could potentially be accessed by the Chinese government, posing a threat to American citizens. This move would represent a significant escalation in the technology cold war between the world's two largest economies, directly impacting a multi-billion dollar segment of the global entertainment industry. The outcome of these debates could reshape ownership structures within the gaming world and further decouple the U.S. and Chinese tech sectors.