Amazon Makes Last Minute Offer for TikTok as Ban Looms - MacRumors
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Amazon Makes Last Minute Offer for TikTok as Ban Looms

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Retail giant Amazon today made an offer to acquire TikTok just days ahead of when TikTok must be sold off or face a ban, reports The New York Times. Unspecified participants involved in the TikTok talks "do not appear to be taking Amazon's bid seriously," and multiple interested parties are scrambling to plead their cases for a TikTok purchase.

TikTok on iPhone
As of January 19, the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act that bans TikTok from operating in the U.S. under Chinese control has been in effect, but U.S. President Donald Trump gave TikTok a reprieve by ordering the Department of Justice to not enforce the law for a 75-day period. That window is set to expire on Saturday, April 5, and a sale of TikTok's U.S. operations must be arranged by that time or the app will be shut down again.

The Trump administration has been considering offers from companies like Oracle and Perplexity, along with individuals like Jimmy Donaldson (also known as MrBeast), Shark Tank host Kevin O'Leary, Employer.com founder Jesse Tinsley, and billionaire Frank McCourt. Trump plans to meet with White House officials on Wednesday to discuss what will happen with TikTok, and he has maintained that he will make the final decision on the app's future.

It is possible that Trump will decide on a deal that includes bringing on multiple U.S. investors, including Oracle and private equity firm Blackstone. Such a deal would not be a formal sale, and may not meet the requirements of the law.

TikTok parent company ByteDance has said that it will not sell TikTok, but it is not clear if that is still the case with a ban on the horizon. While the law is set to go back into effect on April 5, Trump could opt for another deadline extension.

Tag: TikTok

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Top Rated Comments

D
d686546s
16 months ago

The Trump administration has been considering offers from companies like Oracle and Perplexity, along with individuals like Jimmy Donaldson (also known as MrBeast), Shark Tank host Kevin O'Leary, Employer.com founder Jesse Tinsley, and billionaire Frank McCourt. Trump plans to meet with White House officials on Wednesday to discuss what will happen with TikTok, and he has maintained that he will make the final decision on the app's future.

It is possible that Trump will decide on a deal that includes bringing on multiple U.S. investors, including Oracle and private equity firm Blackstone. Such a deal would not be a formal sale, and may not meet the requirements of the law.

TikTok parent company ByteDance has said that it will not sell TikTok, but it is not clear if that is still the case with a ban on the horizon. While the law is set to go back into effect on April 5, Trump could opt for another deadline extension.
Before writing stuff like this, it would be really helpful to provide additional reporting.

How can the Trump administration consider offers when it's not theirs to sell?

I understand that they may consider what will happen if Bytedance doesn't sell, but that's an entirely different thing to what it says here.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
A
AgentOSX
16 months ago

Pretty much this, the national security law prevents the sale. And would anyone be dumb enough to sell the secret playbook that generates billions? The U.S. bluff was already called in January. If you want to ban, fine. The rest of the world will still use it.
I think there are about 6 countries that would follow the US' lead.

TikTok is pretty evil. So evil I am surprised Google doesn't own it.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
A
AgentOSX
16 months ago
I hope they just ban it. I am no fan of that kind of governmental actions, but TikTok is just evil on almost every front and I have never seen it benefit anyone under the age of 20 in any way.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DHagan4755 Avatar
DHagan4755
16 months ago
TikTok under Amazon? Get ready for Prime Influencers.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
anthogag Avatar
anthogag
16 months ago
Don’t sell TikTok to any of the usual billionaire suspects.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
D
daveheinzel
16 months ago

I hope they just ban it. I am no fan of that kind of governmental actions, but TikTok is just evil on almost every front and I have never seen it benefit anyone under the age of 20 in any way.
My teens have used it for years (my daughter introduced it to us back in the "Music.ly" days), as have I and my wife. We generally find our algorithms there to be more friendly, positive, and growth-focused rather than how Meta's feels (toxic). TikTok specifically has been an integral resource for my ongoing education about autism and neurodiversity as I raise my younger son who is autistic. Facebook just thinks I'm into boat crashes. I'm not into boat crashes. I mean, ok... maybe one.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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