The US and China have reportedly reached an agreement to allow TikTok to continue operating in the United States, as stated by President Donald Trump. During remarks to the press, Trump indicated that he has negotiated a deal with China and plans to discuss the details further with President Xi on an upcoming call. The social media app, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, faced a possible shutdown unless it sold its US operations.
Despite previous calls for a ban on TikTok, Trump has delayed the prohibition since its initial announcement in January. He mentioned that a buyer for TikTok’s US operations would be announced shortly. Reports from CNBC suggest that the deal will involve a combination of current and new investors, aiming for completion within 30 to 45 days. This agreement stipulates that US tech firm Oracle will maintain its role in hosting TikTok’s servers within the United States, addressing lawmakers’ concerns regarding data security related to Chinese government access.
On a related note, a US trade delegation mentioned that they have established a “framework” agreement with China during broader trade discussions. Chinese officials confirmed this framework but emphasized that any agreement would not compromise the interests of Chinese firms. A spokesperson from China’s cyberspace administration suggested that the deal may include licensing of TikTok’s algorithms and other intellectual property rights.
Initially, Trump sought to ban TikTok due to security concerns presented by the US Justice Department, stating that the app posed a significant national-security threat. However, ByteDance has resisted divesting its operations in the US, asserting that its US business is independent from the Chinese government. TikTok faced temporary interruptions earlier in the year, yet the deadline for a potential sale has been extended multiple times, with the latest extension set to conclude by December 16.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7847q9xvwgo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss