Microsoft have announced that they would be buying social media app, TikTok after United States’ President Donald Trump announced that he would be banning the app from the United States amid fears that the app is used by Chinese government to spy on Americans.
Microsoft (MSFT) said in a blog post that CEO Satya Nadella has discussed buying the app with Trump. The post read: “[Microsoft] is committed to acquiring TikTok subject to a complete security review and providing proper economic benefits to the United States, including the United States Treasury,” the company said, adding that it will “move quickly” to talk with ByteDance “in a matter of weeks.”
“During this process, Microsoft looks forward to continuing dialogue with the United States Government, including with the President.
“This new structure would build on the experience TikTok users currently love, while adding world-class security, privacy, and digital safety protections,” Microsoft said. “The operating model for the service would be built to ensure transparency to users as well as appropriate security oversight by governments in these countries.”
If Microsoft buys TikTok, it could stop the ban that Trump threatened recently. While threatening, Trump said that emergency economic powers or an executive order could be used by him to block the app from operating in the United States.
If the deal happens and Microsoft acquires majority shares of Tiktok’s parent company, ByteDance, Microsoft will own and operate TikTok services in United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Also, Microsoft will ensure that every private data of American users of TikTok is forwarded to and remain in the United States.
