The never-ending saga of the TikTok ban continues, with a ByteDance board member suggesting that a compromise would be possible.
The remark was made by William E. Ford, an American businessman who is one of the directors of parent company ByteDance …
Check out an earlier piece if you need a reminder of the story so far, but the key facts are:
- The law requires the app to be sold to an American company
- Until that happens, TikTok remains banned in the US
- That is, the app can be used, but US companies can’t host it or offer it for download
- Trump’s executive order doesn’t change that, and is probably unlawful
- Apple continues to comply with the law
Bloomberg reports that Ford has suggested a compromise deal might be possible, given talks between Trump and China’s president.
“We are optimistic we will find a solution,” Ford said, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos. “There are a number of alternatives we can talk to President Trump and his team about that are short of selling the company that allow the company to continue to operate, maybe with a change of control of some kind, but short of having to sell” […]
“I’m optimistic about the dialog that is emerging between President Trump and President Xi,” Ford said. “That might help create a much more constructive environment, a much higher level of engagement that could lead to a positive solution.”
What form that compromise might take isn’t clear, while the law requiring the sale is.
Ford is CEO of investment company General Atlantic, which holds a stake in ByteDance, giving him a seat on the board.
Photo by Solen Feyissa on Unsplash
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