ByteDance Affirms No Intention to Sell TikTok Amid US Ban Threat
ByteDance, the Chinese owner of TikTok, reaffirmed its stance on not selling the social media platform amidst escalating tensions following President Joe Biden's bill signing. This marks the company's initial official statement on the potential nationwide ban, emphasizing its commitment to retaining control of the widely used app.
TikTok's parent company ByteDance stated on Thursday that they have no intention of selling the social media platform. This is their first official statement on the matter since President Joe Biden signed a bill that could potentially result in a nationwide ban of the app.
In a statement released on Toutiao, a news aggregation app owned by ByteDance and popular in mainland China, the Beijing-based company clarified that the reports in foreign media about them exploring the sale of TikTok are false.
“ByteDance doesn’t have any plan to sell TikTok,” it said.
People walk past the headquarters of ByteDance, the parent company of video sharing app TikTok, in Beijing on September 16, 2020.
People walk past the headquarters of ByteDance, the parent company of video sharing app TikTok, in Beijing on September 16, 2020.
Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images
Related article
Banning TikTok would hit China’s tech ambitions and deepen the global digital divide
Bytedance responded directly to an article by the Information on Thursday. The article claimed that Bytedance was considering selling TikTok’s US business without the algorithm that suggests videos to users. Bytedance included screenshots of the Information’s report in their statement, referencing three individuals familiar with the discussions.
Beijing-based ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok and other apps, had not spoken publicly about the recent US legislation pushing for a forced sale. Chinese authorities have also not made any strong statements since the bill was signed into law, despite Beijing's previous indication that it would oppose such actions.
This week, Congress passed the bill as part of a foreign aid package to support Israel and Ukraine. The House approved it on Saturday, and the Senate followed suit on Tuesday.
The legislation is currently the biggest threat to TikTok since concerns were first raised by US officials in 2020. According to the current US law, TikTok must secure a new owner in a matter of months or face a complete ban from its largest market, the United States, where it has 170 million users.
In response, TikTok's CEO Shou Chew has declared that the company will take legal action to continue operating online in the US.
“Rest assured, we aren’t going anywhere,” he said in a video posted on the app.
TikTok's headquarters in Culver City, California
TikTok's headquarters in Culver City, California
Mario Tama/Getty Images
Related article
Wait, is TikTok really Chinese?
The Chinese government has made it clear that it is against a forced sale of TikTok and has the legal power to prevent it. They see TikTok's technology as very important and have been working since 2020 to have the final say in any sale by ByteDance.
TikTok's algorithms, which are responsible for keeping users engaged with the app, are considered crucial to its popularity. These algorithms analyze user behavior to provide personalized video recommendations, leading users to the content they enjoy.
US lawmakers have expressed ongoing worries about Beijing's control over the app TikTok. They are specifically concerned that TikTok might share data with the Chinese government or control the content shown on its platform. However, there is currently limited proof to back up these concerns.
ByteDance, being a company based in China, is required to follow a variety of national laws related to intelligence, data security, and cybersecurity.
In 2018, China updated its National Intelligence Law, mandating all organizations and citizens to assist with national intelligence work. This means that ByteDance is obligated by law to cooperate with intelligence gathering efforts.
As a result of this law, several countries have prohibited officials from downloading TikTok on their devices. The US has implemented one of the most comprehensive measures in response to this law, while India went a step further by banning TikTok entirely in 2020.
CNN’s Brian Fung contributed reporting.
Editor's P/S:
ByteDance's firm denial of plans to sell TikTok is a significant development in the ongoing saga surrounding the popular social media platform. Despite the pressure from the US government and concerns over data security, ByteDance remains adamant about maintaining control of its prized asset. This stance is likely driven by the app's immense popularity, particularly among younger users, and its potential for continued growth in the global market.
However, the legal challenges facing TikTok in the US remain significant. The recently passed legislation could force ByteDance to divest its US operations within months, raising questions about the future of the platform in its largest market. It remains to be seen whether ByteDance's legal efforts to continue operating in the US will be successful, or if the app will ultimately be banned from the country. The outcome of this ongoing battle will have a profound impact on the global digital landscape and the future of social media.
