Chinese tech giant, ByteDance has declared its intention to retain ownership of TikTok, rebuffing speculation spurred by a new US law that imposed a deadline for its divestment from the immensely popular video-sharing platform to avoid a potential ban in the United States.
In response to concerns raised by US lawmakers citing national security risks, ByteDance finds itself under pressure to sever ties with TikTok, amidst allegations that the platform could be exploited by the Chinese government for espionage and propaganda purposes.
Reports from The Information, hinted at ByteDance exploring avenues to offload TikTok while retaining ownership of its proprietary algorithm, which drives content recommendations to its extensive user base exceeding one billion worldwide.
ByteDance swiftly refuted these claims, asserting that it has no intention of relinquishing control of TikTok.
In a statement issued on Toutiao, a Chinese-language platform owned by ByteDance, the company categorically dismissed foreign media reports speculating on its purported plans to sell TikTok. ByteDance reaffirmed its commitment to retaining ownership of the platform, unequivocally stating, “ByteDance does not have any plans to sell TikTok.”
TikTok has long been embroiled in political and diplomatic controversies, becoming a focal point during the tenure of former US President Donald Trump, who sought unsuccessfully to enact a ban on the platform.
Throughout these tumultuous times, TikTok has vehemently refuted any allegations of ties to the Chinese government, asserting its independence and vowing to safeguard the privacy of its US users by refraining from sharing their data with Beijing.
