The Biden administration is demanding that TikTok be sold by its Chinese owners or face a US ban
The move is an escalation of efforts by federal officials to address national security concerns about the Beijing-based owner of social media company ByteDance. TikTok, a popular app for short videos, is used by more than 100 million Americans, raising concerns about the company’s ties to China and its handling of user data.
The development was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, which cited sources familiar with the matter. TikTok spokespersons confirmed the report to multiple news outlets.
TikTok is “disappointed with the outcome,” a spokesperson told NPR about the apparent ultimatum.
TikTok has been negotiating for more than two years with the Committee on Foreign Investment, or CFIUS, a committee made up of officials from several government agencies, including the Departments of Treasury, Justice, Homeland Security, Defense and Commerce, in an effort to reach an agreement that could allow TikTok to continue operations in the United States with stronger safeguards to protect against cybersecurity and privacy risks.
via the Associated Press
TikTok argued that the CFIUS request would not resolve US officials’ data concerns.
“If the goal is to protect national security, divestment does not solve the problem: a change in ownership would not impose new restrictions on data flows or access,” TikTok spokeswoman Brooke Oberwetter said in a statement. “The best way to address national security concerns is transparent, US-based protection of US user data and systems, with robust third-party monitoring, auditing and verification, which we already have in place.”
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is expected to testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee next week.
Earlier this month, lawmakers introduced a bipartisan bill that would authorize the Biden administration to ban foreign adversarial technologies from operating in the United States if they pose a threat to national security, effectively paving the way for a potential TikTok ban.
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