Affiliate Disclosure
If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Read our ethics policy.

ByteDance in talks with US government to avoid full sale of TikTok

TikTok parent company ByteDance is reportedly discussing possible arrangements with the U.S. government to avoid a full sale of the app.

President Donald Trump in August signed an executive order that would effectively ban TikTok in the U.S. if ByteDance failed to sell its operations in the country to a domestic company. The ban takes effect on Sept. 20.

According to The Wall Street Journal, discussions between ByteDance and U.S. officials have been underway for months. But as the Sept. 20 date looms, they have taken on "increased urgency."

The talks are also taking place against the backdrop of Chinese government restrictions on artificial intelligence exports — a move that could make a sale of TikTok much more difficult.

Although the WSJ reports that a "number of options remain on the table," it isn't clear what they could look like. Even if TikTok avoids a full sale, any alternative is still likely to involve restructuring the company.

ByteDance has been exploring sales to U.S. firms ranging from Microsoft and Walmart to Oracle. Any deal must be finalized, though not necessarily completed, by Sept. 20.



6 Comments

Beats 5 Years · 3073 comments

Would love to see MS or Google buy them for $10 billion+ and then kill it on accident like they usually do.

2 Likes · 0 Dislikes
flydog 15 Years · 1142 comments

Beats said:
Would love to see MS or Google buy them for $10 billion+ and then kill it on accident like they usually do.

What has Microsoft or Google ever killed "on accident" ?

Beats 5 Years · 3073 comments

flydog said:
Beats said:
Would love to see MS or Google buy them for $10 billion+ and then kill it on accident like they usually do.
What has Microsoft or Google ever killed "on accident" ?

Motorola and Nokia

3 Likes · 0 Dislikes
chasm 11 Years · 3672 comments

Unpaid? Google spokesperson Gator Guy arriving to set everyone here straight in 3 ... 2 ...

2 Likes · 0 Dislikes
alanh 15 Years · 74 comments

flydog said:
Beats said:
Would love to see MS or Google buy them for $10 billion+ and then kill it on accident like they usually do.
What has Microsoft or Google ever killed "on accident" ?

I think Beats means 'by accident' or 'accidentally on purpose' or more accurately through mismanagement and falling behind competitors.

2 Likes · 0 Dislikes