Aug 2, 2020
Microsoft 'pauses talks on TikTok US deal'
A possible sale of Chinese-owned TikTok's US operations to Microsoft is reportedly on hold after Donald Trump vowed to ban the video-sharing app. The Wall Street Journal said Microsoft had now paused talks despite TikTok owner ByteDance making last ditch efforts to win White House support. The popularity of the short-form video app has soared, with TikTok thought to have about half a billion active users worldwide - and about 80 million in the US - with a huge proportion of these in their teens or early 20s. But some US politicians are worried the app's Chinese owner, Bytedance, poses a risk to national security because the app could be used to collect Americans' personal data. The value of TikTok's US arm has been put at between $15bn and $30bn. TikTok declined to discuss the possible Microsoft deal, but a spokesperson said in a statement on Sunday: "While we do not comment on rumours or speculation, we are confident in the long-term success of TikTok."
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