According to the video-sharing app, the Biden administration has threatened to ban TikTok if the Chinese owners of the app do not sell their shares in the business.
TikTok, which is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance and is used by over 100 million Americans, has drawn criticism from politicians due to worries that the Chinese government would use the app to propagate false information or obtain access to private user data.
In 2020, the CFIUS, or Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., began a national security investigation of the app. US President Donald Trump wanted to ban TikTok that year but was blocked in court. Because to security concerns, TikTok has recently been prohibited by some colleges, states, and federal organisations.
The Wall Street Journal broke the news of the selling demand first. TikTok declined to provide information of the government’s request, and CFIUS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
According to TikTok, worries about national security wouldn’t be resolved by a divestment.
“Data transfers and access would not be subject to any new limitations as a result of a change in ownership, according to Maureen Shanahan, a spokesperson for TikTok.
In order to better protect its systems, app, and the security of US user data, the firm announced in June that it was dedicated to enhancing its safety procedures and will direct all U.S. user traffic to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.
“The transparent, U.S.-based protection of U.S. user data and systems, with strong third-party monitoring, vetting, and verification, which we are now implementing, is the best way to resolve concerns about national security, “added Shanahan.
On Thursday, the White House declined to confirm the letter.
Biden has national security worries about TikTok, as indicated by the prohibition on government devices, according to John Kirby, the coordinator for strategic communications at the National Security Council.
Kirby said of a countrywide ban, “I’m not going to get ahead of the CFIUS study. Since we have real concerns about national security and data integrity that we need to uphold, the president has previously made it clear that he has issues about the usage of that specific app, TikTok, on government computers.
