The United States is formal: either TikTok breaks ties with Bytedance, its Chinese parent, or it will end for the social network on US territory. In any case, it is the ultimatum that was formulated to the head of the platform, Shou Chew, during his visit this Thursday, March 23. before the United States Congress.
And Shou Chew’s talk that his government doesn’t own TikTok seems somewhat at odds with China’s position on the matter. In fact, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce has expressed its firm opposition to a forced sale of the social network.
The algorithm at the center of the conflict
Shu Jueting, a spokesman for the ministry, told a press conference that if the forced sale of TikTok was proven, China would in no case give its consent.
The technologies mentioned by the spokesperson are generally linked to the algorithms present in the application. Last December, officials had already proposed tightening the rules regarding the sale of these recommendation algorithms to foreign buyers. According to some experts, Beijing could also prefer to leave the US market rather than give up the keys to its algorithmic technology.
Investors on the run?
The Chinese ministry points out, however, that this sale would have consequences on the investments made in the United States.
With this potential ban from China, it’s hard to imagine how the future of TikTok in the US could ever look bright again, despite protests from many influencers and users who want to keep watching and posting videos around the clock.
Source: BFM TV
