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Talks forced by the White House to sell the US business of the popular video app TikTok could be hampered by export restrictions imposed by the Chinese government. According to the new rules, among other things, “IT technologies with personalization based on data analysis” and operation with the help of artificial intelligence can only be sold abroad with permission from the government. TikTok is owned by the Chinese company Bytedance.
The Chinese Commerce Ministry published the new rules on Friday. On Saturday, the official Chinese news agency published an interview with a university professor who noted that the technologies on TikTok fell under this description. For the international business to continue to function, Bytedance’s algorithms and software would have to be transferred to a new owner. The list of products affected by export restrictions has been expanded to include 23 items.
US President Donald Trump describes TikTok as a security risk because Chinese authorities could gain access to US data through the app. In early August, he banned US citizens and companies from doing business with TikTok; the ban will take effect in mid-September. Without a sale, TikTok threatens to end in the United States. TikTok and Bytedance deny the accusation and went to court in the United States.
The software giant Microsoft is currently negotiating the purchase of the TikTok business in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Supermarket giant Walmart wants to be on board, too. At the same time, according to media reports, a start-up group of investors is also underway together with software company Oracle.
Trump also ordered in mid-August that Bytedance must disconnect from all user data in the United States within three months. Bytedance also cannot own any property in the US that is used to operate TikTok.
