O presidente dos Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, alertou nesta segunda-feira (21) que não aprovará um acordo sobre o TikTok se o grupo chinês dono da popular APP mantiver o controlo do mesmo.
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, warned this Monday (21) that he will not approve an agreement on TikTok if the Chinese group that owns the popular APP maintains control of it.
The comment raised concern about the future of the agreement reached over the weekend to circumvent the blocking of the application ordered by the United States, considering it a risk to national security, according to AFP.
Trump was asked in an interview with Fox News channel about the possibility of the Chinese company ByteDance retaining 80% of the shares and replied that if the American companies Oracle and Walmart do not have “total control”, he will not approve a deal. Trump indicated that Oracle and Walmart “have an association” for TikTok and highlighted that they “will have full control.”
Details of participation, however, are unclear. According to different sources, the percentages of shares that would be in the hands of the United States and China vary and, mainly, who would control the data and algorithms.
The social network TikTok is under threat of ban in the United States – where it has more than 100 million users. Washington accuses the company, without presenting evidence, of spying on behalf of the Beijing government.
On Saturday, the popular APP, very focused on the youth market, confirmed a project to create an association with Oracle as a technological partner and with Walmart as a commercial contribution to the United States.
Battle for data and algorithm
ByteDance, which is under pressure from the Chinese government not to give in to the United States, said it would maintain 80% control of the company TikTok Global after the stock market launch. According to the Chinese company, the plan does not imply a “transfer of either the algorithm or the technology”, and information in this regard would be nothing more than “rumors”.
The statement from American companies gives another version of TikTok’s control. “With the creation of TikTok Global, Oracle and Walmart will make their investments and the company’s shares will be distributed among its owners, the Americans will be the majority,” said Oracle vice president, Ken Glueck.
Some analysts have expressed pessimism regarding a deal that is approved by both the United States and China. “It seems that Oracle and TikTok made enough concessions because of the American government. Now, we have to see if they were excessive for China”, indicated independent analyst Richard Windsor on his blog.
Published on Plataforma
