Trump pauses TikTok ban to allow negotiation of Microsoft acquisition
The president gives 45 days to the tech company to strike up a deal with ByteDance to acquire the popular short-video app
Microsoft wants to buy TikTok following President Donald Tump‘s threats of banning the video-sharing app.
After the tech giant expressed interest in acquiring TikTok, a Chinese owned app that collects its users’ data while users create wonky videos, the president put a pause on his decision to ban the popular social media platform in America.
READ MORE: Trump threatens to ban TikTok in the U.S.: ‘I have that authority’
As theGrio previously reported, Trump, alongside reporters onboard Air Force One, said he intended to ban TikTok. His concern is that the foreign-owned company is breaching the cybersecurity of American people.
Trump had previously planned to use an executive order in efforts to shut down the popular app, even though many are uncertain that if a mandate to do is possible. However, according to Reuters, the White House has agreed to allow Microsoft a window of 45 days to negotiate the popular short-video app’s acquisition.
Over the weekend, Microsoft to openly plead with ByteDance, a Beijing-based company that owns TikTok, to make a deal that could save TikTok’s American presence.
“Microsoft fully appreciates the importance of addressing the President’s concerns. It is committed to acquiring TikTok subject to a complete security review and providing proper economic benefits to the United States, including the United States Treasury,” Microsoft said in a statement, The Hill reported.
Immediately after Trump’s July 31 declarative statement, a spokesperson for TikTok denied allegations that anything user information is inappropriately shared with China.
The representative said that U.S. user data is stored in the U.S. and is strictly controlled by employee access.
Microsoft representatives say they want to “move quickly to pursue discussions” with ByteDance. Their hope is that the company can complete its negotiation by Sept 15.
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Microsoft is also committed to securing American users’ info, saying it “appreciates the U.S. Government’s and President Trump’s personal involvement as it continues to develop strong security protections for the country.”
“Microsoft would ensure that all private data of TikTok’s American users is transferred to and remains in the United States,” Microsoft wrote in a statement. “To the extent that any such data is currently stored or backed-up outside the United States, Microsoft would ensure that this data is deleted from servers outside the country after it is transferred.”
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