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Biden Raises Concerns Over TikTok Ownership in Call with Xi Jinping

By  |  April 3, 2024

In a recent conversation between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, TikTok’s ownership emerged as a significant topic of discussion, the White House disclosed. President Biden reportedly conveyed American apprehensions regarding the ownership structure of the popular social media platform.

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    According to a statement released by the White House, during the call on Tuesday, President Biden highlighted the concerns regarding the ownership of TikTok. The discussion comes amidst ongoing deliberations in the United States over the future of the app, owned by the Chinese tech company ByteDance.

    Read more: EU Considers Adding X, TikTok-Owner Bytedance, and Booking to Digital Antitrust Regulations

    This conversation follows the significant development in March when the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill with an overwhelming majority. The bill aims to compel ByteDance to divest its U.S. assets related to TikTok within a six-month period or face a potential ban. The decision stemmed from growing apprehensions within the U.S. government regarding national security implications associated with the app’s ownership.

    Reuters reported that while the House of Representatives has taken a clear stance on the matter, the Senate remains undecided on how to proceed. This indecision underscores the complexity of the issue and the divergent perspectives within the U.S. legislative body regarding the appropriate course of action concerning TikTok.

    Source: Reuters