Will Amazon Be the One to Rescue TikTok? U.S. Ban Deadline Nears! Amazon has made a late-stage bid to acquire TikTok, as reported by a Trump administration official on Wednesday. This offer comes just as the deadline approaches for a potential U.S. ban on the popular video-sharing platform, set to take effect on Saturday. The official, speaking anonymously, revealed that the bid was communicated through a letter sent to Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
This move by Amazon marks the latest development in the ongoing saga surrounding TikTok’s future in the United States. The platform, owned by the Chinese tech giant ByteDance, has been under scrutiny due to national security concerns, with fears that user data could be accessed by the Chinese government. Former President Donald Trump, who initially pushed for the app’s ban, had suggested extending the deadline, but he expects a resolution to be reached before Saturday.
Under current U.S. law, ByteDance is required to either sell TikTok to an approved buyer or take the app offline in the U.S. Despite the looming deadline, it’s unclear whether ByteDance is ready to proceed with a sale. Several other companies and investors, including Oracle and Blackstone, have also expressed interest in acquiring the platform. Oracle, for example, already holds a 12.5% stake in TikTok Global after securing a deal to provide the app’s cloud infrastructure.
Earlier this year, Perplexity AI, an artificial intelligence startup, proposed a merger with TikTok’s U.S. operations, pitching its vision for rebuilding TikTok’s algorithm while adhering to American privacy regulations. The company argued that a merger would avoid the risk of a monopoly, a concern if a competitor were to acquire TikTok.
Other potential bidders include a consortium led by billionaire Frank McCourt, which has reportedly offered $20 billion for TikTok’s U.S. operations. Another consortium, organized by Jesse Tinsley, founder of Employer.com, has proposed more than $30 billion, while Wyoming-based small business owner Reid Rasner has placed an offer of $47.5 billion.
Despite concerns over TikTok’s data practices, both the FBI and the Federal Communications Commission have yet to provide concrete evidence that ByteDance has shared U.S. user data with the Chinese government. TikTok has repeatedly denied these allegations, emphasizing its commitment to safeguarding user privacy.
The outcome of this bidding process remains uncertain as the deadline draws near, with various parties, including Amazon, positioning themselves to capitalize on the situation.
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