TikTok expected to operate as a US company, White House adviser says
- Top economic aide Larry Kudlow says he expects social media firm to separate from Chinese owner ByteDance amid growing US concerns over data security
- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo earlier threatened to ban popular video sharing app
A top White House adviser said on Thursday that he expects TikTok to separate from its Chinese owner and operate as an American company amid growing US concerns about the security of the data handled by the short video app.
White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow told reporters a move by TikTok to leave Beijing ByteDance Technology, would be a better option than a ban on the app, which was threatened by State Department Secretary Mike Pompeo earlier this month.
“We haven’t made final decisions but … I think TikTok is going to pull out of the holding company which is China-run and operate as an independent American company,” Kudlow said.
Kudlow did not specify whether TikTok’s ownership would change under the proposed structure. He declined to comment when asked if US companies could acquire TikTok.
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When asked about Kudlow’s remarks, a TikTok spokesman said the company would not “engage with speculation in the market”, and referred to a statement last week noting that ByteDance was “evaluating changes to the corporate structure of its TikTok business” and was fully committed to protecting users privacy and security.