TikTok is racing against time to find a non-Chinese owner as a U.S. law demands it split from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or face a ban.
The deadline, set for April 5 at midnight (0400 GMT), could determine the fate of the popular video-sharing platform, which has over 170 million American users.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who initially supported a TikTok ban, now claims his administration is close to a deal involving multiple investors.
Reports suggest that existing U.S. investors in ByteDance might roll over their stakes into a new, independent TikTok company, with additional American investors, such as Oracle and Blackstone, joining in to reduce Chinese influence.
A key concern remains TikTok’s algorithm, which is considered a potential national security risk by U.S. lawmakers. Some proposals suggest licensing the algorithm from ByteDance, but such a move may contradict the law’s intent.
Amazon and other bidders, including AI startup Perplexity and YouTube star MrBeast’s joint venture, have also expressed interest in acquiring TikTok.
Trump has hinted that TikTok’s fate could be part of broader trade negotiations with China, linking it to potential tariff reductions. With the deadline fast approaching, uncertainty looms over whether TikTok will remain operational in the U.S. or be forced to shut down.
