Advertisement
Microsoft CEO says company’s failed TikTok deal ‘strangest thing I’ve worked on’
- Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella said he was looking forward at the time to bringing Microsoft’s security, child safety and cloud expertise to TikTok
- Microsoft began talks on the proposed acquisition in August 2020, but the deal collapsed by September
Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Microsoft Corp chief executive Satya Nadella said the company’s bid last year to acquire the US assets of hit short video-sharing app TikTok was the “strangest thing I’ve ever worked on”.
Speaking at the Code Conference in Beverly Hills, California, on Monday, Nadella said he was looking forward at the time to bringing Microsoft’s security, child safety and cloud expertise to TikTok.
TikTok had been ordered by then-US President Donald Trump to separate its US assets from Chinese parent ByteDance because of national security concerns about the collection of US users’ data. Microsoft began talks on the proposed acquisition in August 2020, but the deal collapsed by September.
Advertisement
Trump’s divestment push ended by the time he left office in January and no potential suitor ended up acquiring TikTok.
01:14
Trump gives Microsoft 45 days to buy TikTok from China’s Bytedance
Trump gives Microsoft 45 days to buy TikTok from China’s Bytedance
“It’s unbelievable,” Nadella said of the experience during an onstage interview at the Code Conference. “I learned so many things about so much and so many people. First of all, TikTok came to us. We didn’t go to TikTok.”
Advertisement
Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2x faster
1.25x
250 WPM
Slow
Average
Fast
1.25x