Microsoft is currently in talks to acquire TikTok in the wake of President Trump's Friday announcement that he was considering taking steps that would essentially ban the app from the U.S. The rumor comes from an anonymous source with knowledge of the talks between Microsoft and the Chinese company that owns TikTok.
For those unaware, TikTok is owned by the Chinese internet company ByteDance; apparently, the app's ownership has raised the attention of the Trump Administration. Trump officials have cited their concern that TikTok could be a threat to national security.
The app has been under review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States since late last year, with the Trump Administration questioning whether American user data might be at risk to be shared with the Chinese government. And while the state of talks between Microsoft and TikTok remains a mystery - how far along they are, for example - making some sort of deal could help to change around ownership of the app.
TikTok itself has become a global social media presence, and its absence would definitely be felt in the United States if it were banned. The possibility of U.S. ownership of the app will likely be welcome among American TikTok users.
The likelihood of that happening is still unclear, but those following this story will hopefully get a better idea of things in the coming days.
TikTok is available to download on mobile platforms.
Source: NY Times