After reports that President Trump plans to force Chinese company ByteDance to “divest itself” by selling its TikTok’s American operations, sources said Microsoft is in talks to buy the very popular social video network.
The Trump administration has been worried about national security since the popularity of the app. The current administration believes the Chinese government could control the app to either obtain data and spy on US citizens and residents or to spread propaganda in this election year. Trump has been considering banning the app.
TikTok has been the subject of conversation for people in politics and technology.
The social video app has stated previously there is no TikTok data stored on servers in China.
“We are looking at TikTok. We may be banning TikTok,” Trump said this morning at the White House. “We are looking at a lot of alternatives with respect to TikTok.”
Last month, TikTok users reserved tickets for a Trump campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with the goal of not showing up.
About Microsoft and social networking, it is already in charge of LinkedIn for working professionals, GitHub for programmers, and AltSpaceVR for virtual reality fans. Microsoft also recently discontinued its video game streaming service Mixer.
[Sources]: Bloomberg: Trump to Order China’s ByteDance to Sell TikTok in U.S.; Microsoft Is in Talks to Buy TikTok. Business Insider: Microsoft is reportedly in talks to buy TikTok’s US operations.