Chinese social media giant TikTok is reportedly close to reaching a deal with the Biden administration to address national security concerns, but there are still hurdles to overcome.
Newspaper “New York Times The Biden administration and Chinese short video app TikTok have reportedly reached a tentative agreement to address national security concerns, but some terms are still being negotiated. The main issues in the deal reportedly relate to how the platform will continue to operate in the US without major changes to its ownership structure, as Chinese firm ByteDance still controls the company.
Photographer: Justin Chin/Bloomberg via Getty Images
President Joe Biden (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Three people familiar with the matter reported that TikTok agreed to make changes to security and data management without requiring ByteDance to sell. While the Justice Department is in talks with TikTok and its deputy, Lisa Monaco, both parties are reportedly still working on the deal. Many of the Justice Department’s concerns stem from conditions it believes are not strict enough for China.
The Treasury Department, which plays an important role in ratifying national security agreements, is also skeptical that a possible agreement with TikTok will adequately address national security issues.
Many conservatives are skeptical of the deal, including the top Republican on the Intelligence Committee, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL). Anything other than TikTok’s “complete separation” from ByteDance could leave important national security issues regarding operations, data and algorithms unresolved.
The Treasury Department spokesman, who chairs the foreign investment committee in the United States, said in general that the committee “is determined to take all necessary measures within its mandate to protect the national security of the United States.”
TikTok did not comment on the talks, but said it was “safe” as it was “on its way to fully comply with all reasonable US national security considerations”.
Breitbart News recently reported that US executives are fleeing the company due to China’s iron fist in running US operations.
Forbes reports that former TikTok employees claimed that at least five top executives hired by the company in the past two years left after realizing they could not influence decision-making at the company. Three of the former department heads, who did not speak to Forbes, said they learned that they were expected to issue clear instructions from the Beijing office of TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, after they assumed their duties.
A former manager said: “Most of our direction came from the center and we were not involved in strategy development. I have been in this industry for a long time. I don’t want to be told what to do.” Another former employee reporting to the Beijing-based strategy team said a fourth divisional head also recently left the company after a corporate restructuring forced the individual to report to management.
One employee noticed a theme in the exits and said, “People get into management positions in the US and then they’re demoted in favor of people in Beijing.” Chief of Security until July. Cloutier has reportedly stepped down after TikTok CEO Shaw Zi Chu created a new department to manage user data in the US, which he said has “changed the scope of the Global Chief Security Officer (CSO).
Read more Newspaper “New York Times here.
Source: Breitbart
