TikTok's fate hangs in the balance as the US prepares to implement a ban on the popular video platform this Saturday, with many US officials and business giants scrambling to save the platform.

 

Among them is Amazon, as the company has submitted a bid to acquire the platform, The New York Times (NYT) reported.

 

The bid was communicated to Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, according to a Trump administration official.

 

The ban, that had been upheld unanimously by the Supreme Court, targets TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, which is required to sell the platform to an approved buyer or cease operations in the US. President Donald Trump previously granted TikTok a temporary reprieve on Inauguration Day, bypassing a court ruling that deemed the ban necessary for national security.

 

Trump has indicated that he might further delay the enforcement of the ban, but he also expects a deal to be reached by Saturday. Amazon's late bid comes as Trump prepares to meet with senior officials to discuss the impending deadline for a sale.

 

Concerns have been raised by both the FBI and the Federal Communications Commission regarding ByteDance’s potential to share user data with the Chinese government, including browsing history and biometric information. TikTok has consistently denied these allegations, asserting that it has never shared user data with China and would not do so if requested.

 

As Trump navigates this complex issue, he must balance the interests of China hawks within his party against the younger, online supporters who have embraced TikTok. The White House has been evaluating several options, including a scenario where investors outside China could increase their ownership stake in TikTok, while ByteDance would retain control over its algorithm, the Washington Post reported.

 

This potential arrangement has been controversial, as critics warn that it would allow China to maintain influence over TikTok's operations. Trump will meet with top officials, including Vice President Vance and Commerce Secretary Lutnick, to review strategies for the platform's future.

 

Neither ByteDance nor the Chinese government has indicated whether they would support any potential deal. A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington emphasized that “China has always respected and protected the legitimate rights and interests of enterprises” and opposed actions that undermine market principles.

 

Amazon's bid for TikTok, however, may not be seriously considered by the White House. Reports suggest that negotiations are ongoing, with various proposals on the table, including a plan where ByteDance would lease its algorithm to a new entity managing TikTok in the US.

 

The outcome of these discussions remains uncertain, particularly as the US government grapples with the broader implications of a potential sale. TikTok's critics have voiced concerns that any arrangement allowing continued ties to ByteDance could undermine national security.

 

As the clock ticks down to the Saturday deadline, Trump has expressed confidence that there is significant interest in acquiring TikTok. Potential buyers have included various investors and entrepreneurs, each eager to capitalize on the platform’s immense popularity.

 

In the face of these developments, Trump has hinted at the possibility of tying the TikTok negotiations to broader trade discussions with China, suggesting that concessions on tariffs could be on the table.