Microsoft Looks to Purchase TitkTok App to Avoid Potential Ban

Shortly after President Trump announced his intention to ban TikTok from the U.S., Microsoft entered talks in order to purchase the app. The president said he would use his emergency powers to issue an executive order and block the app from operating within the U.S. He said the reasoning behind his swift action stems from his beliefs that the popular Chinese owned application poses a potential national security risk. However, U.S. spokespersons for TikTok continue to deny allegations that information obtained through the app is sold to the Chinese government. In attempt to bypass the ban, Microsoft is now in talks to purchase the app within a matter of weeks. Their intervention would ensure the U.S. based company owns and operates services not only in the United States, but Canada, Australia and New Zealand as well. In an official statement, the tech company said, “this new structure would build on the experience TikTok users currently love, while adding world-class security, privacy, and digital safety protections.”