Donald Trump has taken steps to save TikTok in the US, claiming only he can negotiate a deal amid ongoing national security concerns. Vice President JD Vance was put in charge of the deal, but negotiations remain unresolved. Trump Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that TikTok would cease operations if China's approval for a deal is not secured. Under Trump's proposal, control over TikTok would shift to Americans, while ByteDance's board argues compliance could be achieved without a sale. The US remains firm on controlling TikTok's algorithm, which ByteDance is reluctant to sell.
Lutnick confirmed that if China won't approve the latest version of the deal, the administration is willing to shut down TikTok. He stated, "TikTok would stop operating in the US if China and TikTok owner ByteDance won't sell the app to buyers that Trump lined up." This indicates that the US government is serious about taking action against TikTok if satisfactory terms are not met.
Under the deal that Trump is promoting, he stated, "China can have a little piece or ByteDance, the current owner, can keep a little piece. But basically, Americans will have control. Americans will own the technology, and Americans will control the algorithm." This emphasizes the administration's focus on American ownership and control.
ByteDance's board has maintained that the US can alleviate its national security fears without forcing a sale. Board member Bill Ford mentioned a non-sale option could ensure compliance with US legislation without selling the app or its algorithm. This highlights ongoing efforts to find a compromise.
Lutnick suggested that the US is unwilling to bend on the requirement for US control of the recommendation algorithm, which is essential to the app's popularity. The implications indicate ByteDance's reluctance to sell the algorithm due to concerns over sharing core intellectual property.
Collection
[
|
...
]