The Biden administration has demanded that TikTok's Chinese owners divest their stakes in the popular video app or face a possible ban in the United States, the company says.
abc.net.au/news/biden-administration-demanding-tiktok-owner-bytedance-sell-app/102108020The Biden administration has demanded that TikTok's Chinese owners divest their stakes in the popular video app or face a possible ban in the United States, the company said on Wednesday.
The move is the most dramatic in a series of recent steps by US officials and legislators who have raised fears that TikTok's US user data could be passed on to China's government.It is also the first time under the administration of Democratic President Joe Biden that a potential ban on TikTok has been threatened. Mr Biden's predecessor, Republican Donald Trump, tried to ban TikTok in 2020 but was blocked by US courts.
TikTok owner ByteDance is based in Beijing, although 60 per cent of its shares are owned by global investors. "The US should stop spreading disinformation about data security, stop suppressing the relevant company, and provide an open, fair and non-discriminatory environment for foreign businesses to invest and operate in the US," ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a daily briefing.
It would follow similar action taken in the United States, where the White House last month gave US government agencies 30 days to ensure they do not have TikTok on federal devices and systems. Any US ban would face significant legal hurdles and potential political ramifications, since TikTok is popular with millions of young Americans.
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