WSJ: Pentagon and DOJ seek to sell US TikTok business
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The US administration is discussing the possibility of a forced sale of the American TikTok business owned by the Chinese ByteDance, reports The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) citing sources. This initiative is supported by the Pentagon and the US Department of Justice. Washington fears that Beijing could use the app “for espionage and political influence.”
According to the WSJ, the offer to sell TikTok came from the U.S. Foreign Investment Committee, which has been discussing with the social network for more than two years the possibility of splitting its business in order to “protect it from the Chinese government.” Pentagon and Justice Department officials approve of this out of fear that Beijing could access TikTok data “or influence the videos Americans watch on TikTok.”
The US Treasury, which chairs the committee, is opposed. The department fears that the decision of the authorities may be challenged in court, and is looking for alternative solutions.
A White House spokeswoman declined to comment on the information. TikTok also declined to comment on the possibility of a forced sale. The social network said that “they can solve the problems raised by the US government.”
December 15 US Senate voted for banning TikTok on government-owned devices. In order for the law to come into force, it must now be approved by the House of Representatives and the President of the United States. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp banned officials to use Telegram and TikTok. CIA Director William Burns expressed concerns about the popularity of TikTok in the US.
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