ByteDance Affirms No Plans to Sell TikTok Amid US Pressure

Chinese tech titan ByteDance has rebuffed speculations about selling TikTok, following the enactment of a new US law that mandates divestment from the viral video platform within nine months or face a potential ban in the United States.

US legislators justified the deadline on national security grounds, asserting that TikTok’s ownership by ByteDance could enable Chinese government surveillance and propaganda.

Although reports surfaced suggesting ByteDance might explore selling TikTok without its proprietary recommendation algorithm, ByteDance vehemently denied any such intentions.

Dismissing foreign media claims, ByteDance affirmed on its Chinese-language platform, Toutiao, that it has no plans to offload TikTok.

TikTok’s geopolitical challenges have simmered for years, notably during the Trump administration’s attempts to prohibit its operations in the US.

Despite vehemently refuting any ties to the Chinese government and pledging not to share US user data with Beijing, TikTok remains under scrutiny.

To address concerns, TikTok initiated “Project Texas,” earmarking $1.5 billion to store US user data domestically.

Critics, however, argue that separating user data is insufficient and insist on isolating TikTok’s recommendation algorithm from ByteDance’s control.

TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, has vowed to contest the new law in court, although legal experts suggest that national security interests may trump free speech protections in the eyes of the US Supreme Court.