Microsoft is continuing discussions over the potential purchase of Chinese company TikTok.
The company says the move is the result of conversations between CEO Satya Nadella and President Trump although there is no guarantee that the deal will be completed.
A statement on Microsoft’s official blog says: “Microsoft fully appreciates the importance of addressing the president’s concerns. It is committed to acquiring TikTok subject to a complete security review and providing proper economic benefits to the United States, including the United States Treasury.
“Microsoft will move quickly to pursue discussions with TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, in a matter of weeks, and in any event completing these discussions no later than September 15, 2020. During this process, Microsoft looks forward to continuing dialogue with the United States Government, including with the president.”
The discussions with ByteDance will build upon a notification made by Microsoft and ByteDance to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). The two companies have provided notice of their intent to explore a preliminary proposal that would involve a purchase of the TikTok service in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand and would result in Microsoft owning and operating TikTok in these markets. Microsoft may invite other American investors to participate on a minority basis in this purchase.
“This new structure would build on the experience TikTok users currently love, while adding world-class security, privacy and digital safety protections,” said the company in a statement. “The operating model for the service would be built to ensure transparency to users as well as appropriate security oversight by governments in these countries.
“Among other measures, Microsoft would ensure that all private data of TikTok’s American users is transferred to and remains in the United States. To the extent that any such data is currently stored or backed-up outside the United States, Microsoft would ensure that this data is deleted from servers outside the country after it is transferred.”
Microsoft said it appreciates the US Government’s and President Trump’s personal involvement as it continues to develop strong security protections for the country.
“These discussions are preliminary and there can be no assurance that a transaction which involves Microsoft will proceed,” the statement added. “We do not intend to provide further updates until there is a definitive outcome to our discussions.”
