TiktokThe company has been in the U.S. controversial center for four years due to concerns about user data that the Chinese government may access. Just the past month, the app has experienced a temporary power outage in the United States, bringing millions of users to suspense before it quickly recovers.
Tiktok returns to App Store and Google Play Store In February.
Still, the future of Tiktok is uncertain, and many investors are fighting for the opportunity to buy the app. The platform’s U.S. business may soar to $60 billionAs Angelo Zino, senior vice president of CFRA Research, estimates.
Tiktok Ban: What has happened so far
To fully understand this high-stakes drama, we will first revisit the timeline of Tiktork’s turbulent relationship with the U.S. government, which has led to various legal struggles and negotiations.
This drama was originally August 2020When Trump signed an executive order to ban dispatching transactions with his parent company.
A month later, the Trump administration tried to sell Tiktok’s U.S. business to an American company. Leading competitors include Microsoft, Oracle and Walmart. However, the US interim judge Prevent Trump’s executive order allows Tiktok to continue to operate as the legal battle unfolds.
After transitioning to the Biden administration last year, things began to improve last year. U.S. House of Representatives, In the overwhelming 360-58 votelegislation against Tiktok was passed. April 23, 2024 The Senate passed the bill.
Soon after, President Joe Biden A bill was signed to require Tiktok to be sold or banned. In response, Tiktok sues the U.S. governmentchallenging the constitutionality of the ban and arguing that the app and its first amendment rights infringement of the first amendment rights of the U.S. user. The company has been denied that it poses a security threat and asserts that its data storage in the United States complies with all local laws.
Trump changes his mind
On December 27, 2024, Trump be opposed to Tiktok’s potential ban in court documents, said he could find a way to keep the app in the United States, in contrast to his practice during his first presidency and brought surprising events for Tiktok.
January U.S. Supreme Court Maintaining the protection of Americans from the Foreign Adversary Control Application Act (PAFACA), commonly known as the “Tiktok ban.” Tiktok officially announced that it may have to be dark on January 19.
Tiktok closes…and then return to the Internet
Although Tiktok does Close yourself In the United States, when the act came into effect, it did not last long. The application Back to the Internet Less than 12 hours. “Tictok has returned to the United States thanks to President Trump’s efforts,” the platform noted.
Where are we today
January 20Trump signed an executive order that delayed the Tiktok ban for 75 days. The extension gives the app extra time to sell stakes in the platform or to reach an agreement with Trump. His goal is to achieve a 50-50 ownership arrangement between BODEDANCE and a U.S. company.
recent, In early MarchTrump told reporters that his administration is in talks with four different groups interested in buying the platform, Every Reuters.
A final deal has not been reached to sell the platform, but we will find out soon.
Here is a list of rumored investor groups and companies that are potential buyers of Tiktok’s US operations. (surprisingly, Elon Musk Not in it. )
People bid for tiktok
People bid for tiktok It is a consortium organized by the founder of Project Liberty Frank McCourtalso a former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Investment firm Guggenheim Securities and law firms Kirkland and Kirkland & Ellis are helping assemble bids. The main mission of people bidding for Tiktok is to prioritize privacy and data control, with an open source approach.
Supporters involved include:
- Alexis Ohanian: Reddit Co-founder is up to date Tech entrepreneurs join the people’s bid as strategic consultant. He joined on March 3.
- Kevin O’Leary: A famous investor and television figure, formerly Tell Fox is willing to buy Tiktok for $20 billion. O’Leary join in The people made a bid on January 6.
- Tim Berners-Lee: The inventor of the World Wide Web supports the proposal because “users should have the ability to control their own data”, Berners-Lee explain In the statement.
- David Clark: Clark is a senior research scientist at the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory and has also been appointed as a participant.
American Investor Consortium
Jesse TinsleyThe CEO and founder of employer Com, is leading a consortium of U.S. investors. Last month, Tinsley announced $30 billion in all-cash discount Acquisition of Tiktok’s US business.
- David Baszucki: Tinsley told Bloomberg Roblox co-founder and CEO are participants.
- Nathan McCauley: According to Bloomberg, the co-founder and CEO of Crypto Platform Anchorage Digital has been confirmed to be part of the consortium.
Other related aspects
- Bobby Kotick: Activision’s former CEO is It is said that Interested in buying Tiktok. With his experience in managing a large gaming company, his interest in the app may be driven by the potential of integrating gaming and social media.
- Steven Mnuchin: Former U.S. Treasury Secretary serving during President Trump’s first term Re-enter the discussion About the potential purchase of Tiktok.
- Oracle: The company had previously bid for Tiktok in 2020. Oracle Co-founder in January before the White House Larry Ellison Say 50% ownership to TrumpSeems very good. “information Report In March, Oracle was the first choice as a cloud technology partner to help Tiktok run in the United States
- Walmart: The retail giant may also be focusing on Tiktok to enhance its influence in e-commerce, especially given the platform’s impact on consumer shopping behavior. Walmart First published interest in 2020.
- Microsoft: This technology giant used to be Show interest in obtaining TiktokMoreover, Trump mentioned that the company recently re-entered the bid to buy the app.
- rumble: YouTube Alternatives Announced on X It wants to acquire Tiktok and serve as its cloud technology partner.
- Confused AI: AI search engine launched and submitted a bid last month. According to CNBC.
The story has been updated after publication to include new interested parties.
