Discussion

• @microsoft @microsoft on x

  Microsoft to continue discussions on potential TikTok purchase in the United States. https://blogs.microsoft.com/ ...

• @martinsfp Martin Sfp Bryant on x

  @ow I wish someone somewhere would address how this affects TikTok in the rest of the world. How does a service have two different operators? How do they remain compatible? Are they just the same brand name but completely separate? This is a potentially huge thing.

• @sh_reya Shreya Shankar on x

  Here are some lowlights from my reading of TikTok security reports[1] (for the record, you can learn to avoid these in an intro security or privacy class): [1] https://penetrum.com/...

• @karaswisher Kara Swisher on x

  I have an column for @nytopinion soon on exactly how some ignorant Trump administration staff like this persistent screw-up have messed up a possible win as per usual. Hey @stevenmnuchin1 get in here ASAP before this chucklehead soils the whole deal. https://twitter.com/...

• @benthompson Ben Thompson on x

  @digitalshields They did $7.7 billion in ad revenue last year. If only we could all exit the ad business so lucratively.

• @alexstamos Alex Stamos on x

  Countries in scope is the Five Eyes minus the UK. I wonder if Bytedance is shopping TikTok Ireland for EU data to separate bidders.

• @givenality Given Edward on x

  It's important for anyone following this saga to understand that this is not about privacy or whatever. It's about power and where it lies in the future. Whoever controls the digital world controls world economy. That's why Trump would rather TikTok is in hand of an American. htt…

• @mikeisaac Rat King on x

  BREAKING: @Microsoft pursues @tiktok_us deal after discussions with @POTUS Trump https://blogs.microsoft.com/ ...

• @loudmouthjulia Julia Alexander on x

  Also key in the blog post, imo: “To the extent that any such data is currently stored or backed-up outside the United States, Microsoft would ensure that this data is deleted from servers outside the country after it is transferred.”

• @alistairmbarr Alistair Barr on x

  The splinternet comes to the US as part of TikTok talks: “To the extent that any such data is currently stored or backed-up outside the United States, Microsoft would ensure that this data is deleted from servers outside the country after it is transferred.”

• @globaltimesnews @globaltimesnews on x

  #Bytedance said it is facing “complexity and unimaginable difficulties” in its process of becoming an international company, including international political tension, cultural clash and smearing from its competitor Facebook: statement https://twitter.com/...

• @levie Aaron Levie on x

  The US Government should definitely get a couple percentage points of a “finders fee” for the TikTok deal when it goes down.

• @maggienyt Maggie Haberman on x

  Some in WH blames Navarro, a China hawk who was focused on a hard line, and others for getting in POTUS ear about the Microsoft option. Mnuchin worked phones, and told Trump making the platform go dark was bad politically https://www.nytimes.com/... https://www.nytimes.com/...

• @maggienyt Maggie Haberman on x

  The president's announcement aboard AF1 of a coming ban caught several WH advisers by surprise and set into motion a now-familiar domino effort to get people to call Trump and try to change his mind https://www.nytimes.com/... https://www.nytimes.com/...

• @slasher Rod Breslau on x

  just in: Microsoft will continue its pursuit of purchasing TikTok after talking to Trump https://blogs.microsoft.com/ ...

• @johnbattelle John Battelle on x

  Xbox aside, this is not what Microsoft is in the business of doing. I'm baffled by it, to be honest. Is there a master plan for Tik Tok inside Microsoft? This perfunctory, Trump-pleasing post makes no case. https://blogs.microsoft.com/ ...

• @mikeindustries Mike Davidson on x

  This is such a weird blog post coming from Microsoft. There is a “Dear Leader” aspect to it that makes me think it's less about TikTok and more about some other part of their business they are looking to build or protect. Govt contracts, anti-trust, etc. https://blogs.microsoft.c…

• @digitalshields Mike Shields on x

  Interesting side effect of this Trump/TikTok madness- after many years of investment Microsoft largely exited the ad business roughly 5 years ago. TikTok thrusts then right back in -in a potentially huge way

• @donie Donie O'Sullivan on x

  The company also accused Facebook of committing “smears and plagiarism” in its statement without providing further information.

• @wongmjane Jane Manchun Wong on x

  The vibe is like a bunch of serious businesspeople offering to buy a ball pit https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...

• @stevecheney Steve Cheney on x

  Absolutely insane thread (& truly great analysis) Yes TikTok's totally untrustworthy, but also, its engineers are literally incapable of coding So many backdoors in this thread (likely deliberate) IMEI capture etc. And MD5 use reveals TikTok's total disregard for security/users h…

• @levie Aaron Levie on x

  Normal M&A: we think this would a strategic fit for both our companies, here's a term sheet. TikTok M&A: we will need to consult with the president to ensure he's bought in and make sure this deal doesn't disrupt international trade policy between warring economic powers.

• @caro_milanesi Carolina Milanesi on x

  #Microsoft to continue discussions on potential #TikTok purchase in the United States - the blog sounds like selling the TikTok you know with the MS security & privacy you appreciate although I doubt most users care https://blogs.microsoft.com/ ...

• @kaitlancollins Kaitlan Collins on x

  Interesting. POTUS told reporters Friday he was against this. https://twitter.com/...

• @karaswisher Kara Swisher on x

  Looks like ⁦@stevenmnuchin1⁩ won out here in getting Microsoft to write a hostage letter slathering trump with praise: Microsoft to continue discussions on potential TikTok purchase in the United States - The Official Microsoft Blog https://blogs.microsoft.com/ ...

• @axios @axios on x

  BREAKING: Microsoft has just announced it “is prepared to continue discussions to explore a purchase of TikTok” in the U.S. following a conversation between the tech giant's CEO Satya Nadella and President Trump https://www.axios.com/...

• @taylorlorenz Taylor Lorenz on x

  Microsoft says it'll continue pursuit of TikTok. The announcement came after the company consulted with President Trump, who has threatened to ban the app and expressed national security concerns about it in recent weeks. https://www.nytimes.com/...

• @donie Donie O'Sullivan on x

  It added that “we still adhere to the vision of globalization and continue to increase investment in markets around the world, including China, to create value for users around the world.”

• @donie Donie O'Sullivan on x

  ByteDance on Sunday said it is faced with “complex and unimaginable difficulties” including an “intense international political environment”

• @fryan @fryan on x

  Microsoft's “preliminary proposal” is to buy TikTok in the United States, Canada, Australia, & New Zealand. That's almost the full Five-Eyes. What about the UK? https://blogs.microsoft.com/ ...

• @frankpallotta Frank Pallotta on x

  I'm old enough to remember when this wasn't happening two days ago. https://twitter.com/...

• @jane_li911 Jane Li on x

  ByteDance's Zhang Yiming just sent an internal letter to the company, saying it is discussing with an American tech company to explore ways to allow TikTok to continue operating in the US: https://twitter.com/...

• @stevekovach Steve Kovach on x

  Also notable: Microsoft will allow outside investors to take a stake in TikTok. VCs gotta be going bonkers now. https://twitter.com/...

• @qingqingparis Qingqing_Chen on x

  #TikTok's Chinese owner #Bytedance said in late Sunday night the firm is committed to become a global firm. But it faces complicated and unimaginable difficulties, tense international political environment, culture conflicts and plagiarism and smear from rival like #Facebook. htt…

• @sarahfrier Sarah Frier on x

  Microsoft “is committed to acquiring TikTok subject to a complete security review and providing proper economic benefits to the United States, including the United States Treasury.” https://twitter.com/...

• @wongmjane Jane Manchun Wong on x

  What if Microsoft ruins TikTok like Skype and then devalue it so Twitter can pick it up and rebrand it to Vine or something

• @simon26744414 @simon26744414 on x

  Bytedance, Tictok's parent company, is no longer silent: We've been vilified by Facebook! #TicTok @zlj517 @SpokespersonCHN https://twitter.com/...

• @alexstamos Alex Stamos on x

  Reading this press release like the CIA decoding a policy paper from the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet... https://blogs.microsoft.com/ ...

• @wadhwa Vivek Wadhwa on x

  Microsoft Says It'll Continue Pursuit of TikTok https://www.nytimes.com/... Hope Microsoft does buy it. I've been dying to use it and learn what the excitement is all about... did not want to pay the price of having China spy on me @satyanadella

• @jared_wade Jared Wade on x

  Love when I'm considering a business move for my company and I just call up the elected head of my nation's government on a Sunday for a chat. What a very normal society we live in. https://twitter.com/...

• @lichtspektrum @lichtspektrum on x

  2 weeks ago, PingWest English edition received an op-ed submission from some1 high up at ByteDance. The piece was basically zeroed in on FB, and Zuckerberg himself, as the cause of TikTok's misery in the US. We declined to publish it. And today ByteDance launched its own attack. …

• @tomgara Tom Gara on x

  This Reuters report makes fairly clear what's really going on: TikTok is close to a deal to sell to Microsoft, the Chinese owners were haggling over trying to retain a small stake, Trump's threat to ban was just a blustery negotiating tactic https://www.reuters.com/...

• @tomwarren Tom Warren on x

  Reuters reporting that TikTok owner ByteDance has offered the US a deal that involves Microsoft taking ownership of TikTok in the US. Up to the White House to decide now, but I hope Microsoft doesn't announce this during the FA Cup final 😅 https://www.reuters.com/... https://twit…

• @vladsavov Vlad Savov on x

  The US is such a lover of free enterprise that its president is holding a gun against TikTok's head and telling ByteDance “sell it or it dies.” https://www.reuters.com/...

• @ruima @ruima on x

  “Some inside the White House cautioned about a political downside to blocking the deal. While TikTok has been used by Trump critics, some officials pointed out that many young Republicans also use the app, as well as the children of conservatives.” I see. https://www.wsj.com/...

• @bobdavis187 Bob Davis on x

  Great reconstruction of what happened within the Trump admin and at Microsoft. A deal for TikTok is on the horizon. Trump had to be convinced to ditch the Navarro position. https://www.wsj.com/... via @WSJ

• @kurtwagner8 Kurt Wagner on x

  TikTok + MSFT update: The two sides have 45 days to figure out a deal. A Sept. 15 deadline was put in place at the insistence of the White House. Story w/ @dinabass https://www.bloomberg.com/...

• @anthony Anthony DeRosa on x

  Microsoft said it will move forward with plans to acquire TikTok's U.S. operations, capping off weeks of covert dealmaking nearly upended by the President of the United States https://www.wsj.com/...

• @danwwang Dan Wang on x

  Is the WSJ implying here that Microsoft might matchmake Xbox users with TikTok users? https://www.wsj.com/... https://twitter.com/...

• @sameer_singh17 Sameer Singh on x

  This still makes no sense. Even ignoring TikTok's weak moat, splitting off TikTok US from TikTok international weakens both. Fewer creators and fewer viewers in each network. Competitors must be licking their chops. https://twitter.com/...

• @jendudley Jen Dudley-Nicholson on x

  The predicament in which TikTok finds itself in must be a dream for Microsoft: a ready-made social network that's so much cooler than Bing or Edge or Clippy... https://www.wsj.com/...

• @cararlombardo Cara Lombardo on x

  “Allies of the president reached out to Microsoft Saturday evening, urging it to post a simple, positive message on Twitter signaling that Microsoft wanted to help keep TikTok alive.” https://twitter.com/...

• @benmullin Ben Mullin on x

  New TikTok ticktock from *seven* WSJ reporters: https://www.wsj.com/...

• @saraheneedleman Sarah E. Needleman on x

  The deal would land Microsoft the breakout social-media player of this decade. ⁦ https://www.wsj.com/...

• @jchengwsj Jonathan Cheng on x

  Fresh out the oven: Weeks of covert talks with the White House helped save the U.S. operations of TikTok, China's first truly global internet sensation—but only by putting it in Microsoft's hands. @georgia_wells @MichaelCBender @Kate_OKeeffe @lizalinwsj https://www.wsj.com/...

• @dseetharaman Deepa Seetharaman on x

  “Covert talks began weeks ago. After the software giant's CEO and Trump spoke Sunday, Microsoft said an agreement could include the video app's operations in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.” https://www.wsj.com/...

• @tomwarren Tom Warren on x

  Microsoft buying TikTok? I'm only interested if we are gonna get more TikTok videos like this https://twitter.com/...

• @mattnavarra Matt Navarra on x

  Microsoft would own TikTok U.S and LinkedIn. 😬 https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...

• @suka_hiroaki Andreas Proschofsky on x

  MS has successfully moved to a enterprise focused business which works great for them while giving them comparatively little public (and legal) scrutiny. By buying TikTok they would immediately attract the interest of regulators and law makers. 2/

• @suka_hiroaki Andreas Proschofsky on x

  They also would have to deal with the two currently most hated things in the IT world: Ads and content moderation. For what? For some data? For some good vibes to feel relevant in the consumer business again? I just don't see the cost / risk ratio playing out well here. 3/

• @suka_hiroaki Andreas Proschofsky on x

  I still think buying TikTok is a very, very bad idea for Microsoft. Loads of downsides with only few upsides for a potentially steep price. 1/ https://www.theverge.com/...

• @backlon Dieter Bohn on x

  Good overview of the reasons why Microsoft might want TikTok from @tomwarren But I can't stop thinking about how Microsoft is now stuck with one more variable to contend with in its negotiations: staying off Donald Trump's shitlist. What a fiasco. https://www.theverge.com/...

• @tomwarren Tom Warren on x

  Why Microsoft wants TikTok. Here's my thoughts on the deal, and why TikTok could help fill an important blindspot for Microsoft https://www.theverge.com/... https://twitter.com/...

• @zhonggg Raymond Zhong on x

  The Chinese entrepreneur behind TikTok took plenty of precautions when he set out to straddle the tech world's most treacherous divide. It didn't count for much in the end. https://www.nytimes.com/...

• @ewong Edward Wong on x

  Good story in @TheAtlantic by @MichaelSchuman on TikTok & how its global success and its political problems in the US embody the contradictions of the US, China and relations between the 2 nations. Has interview w/ founder Zhang Yiming. h/t @prashantrao. https://www.theatlantic.c…

• @jamesrbuk James Ball on x

  The country on the planet with the most to lose from a Balkanised Internet - each country (or region) using its own tech giants, losing global connections - it's the USA. Huge loss to its soft power, its economic power and its surveillance edge. And yet it's leading the charge ht…

• @katebevan @katebevan on x

  This really worries me - and of course it's nuts; American social platforms are similarly rapacious suckers-up of data https://www.ft.com/...

• @martinsfp Martin Sfp Bryant on x

  Eesh. Echoes of India's approach to Chinese apps here. https://giftarticle.ft.com/...

• @geoffreyfowler Geoffrey A. Fowler on x

  Looking forward to Microsoft TikTok https://twitter.com/...

• @levynews Ari Levy on x

  Gates and Ballmer practically created TikTok https://twitter.com/...

• @alexstamos Alex Stamos on x

  1) I continue to be wary of forcing a sale of TikTok without data protection laws they could try to follow. 2) Microsoft would face a real challenge technically forking from ByteDance 3) MSFT has one of the best child safety teams, which is a larger risk on TikTok right now https…

• @senblumenthal Richard Blumenthal on x

  This potential Microsoft takeover should not distract us from the need to crack down on insidious spying & surveillance by TikTok, Zoom, & other Chinese companies. I've asked that the DOJ investigate & take action against them to protect our national security & consumer privacy. …

• @thehill @thehill on x

  Sen. Schumer: “I have been very opposed to TikTok... I have urged that TikTok be closed down in America.” https://twitter.com/...

• @alexstamos Alex Stamos on x

  This video is bonkers: 1) Microsoft is the most important company in global enterprise tech and a US champion 2) They are already sitting on the mail of most US business, 10,000x more valuable than TikTok data 3) I've seen their sec team disrupt dozens of CN/RU/IR/NK ops https://…

• @carnage4life Dare Obasanjo on x

  The US government is implying it plans to follow India and ban large number of Chinese social apps including WeChat (not just TikTok). This now creates dynamic where big tech needs U.S. govt to protect them from retaliation. 2 birds, one stone. https://www.ft.com/...

• @jacobhelberg Jacob Helberg on x

  [Thread👇🏻] Let's talk about why the Tik Tok status quo doesn't make sense for America. There are 3 issues (2 longstanding problems + 1 more recent issue which has emerged to the forefront): https://twitter.com/...

• @martinsfp Martin Sfp Bryant on x

  What I've not seen addressed anywhere: the ‘Microsoft buys US TikTok’ deal seemingly creates 2 TikToks with different users and (over time) code. A ‘US TikTok’ and a rest-of-world TikTok. So European users can't see US content etc..? cc ⁦@danprimack⁩ https://www.axios.com/...

• @lnakamur Lisa Nakamura on x

  I envy colleagues at Microsoft. This will be a really interesting acquisition, the most promising platform in at least ten years. TikTok: China's ByteDance agrees to divest US operations after Trump threat https://www.theguardian.com/ ...

• @kriticalvodka Lahiru Perera on x

  Facebook is just going to have a field day with their copycat platform. https://twitter.com/...

• @mdudas Mike Dudas on x

  So @POTUS, proven to be one of the worst grifters and businessmen on Earth, gets to dictate by fiat which American company is allowed to buy @tiktok_us. What an absolute disgrace... https://www.wsj.com/...

• @benthompson Ben Thompson on x

  “Trump is banning TikTok because of Tulsa” is a classic example of the right thing being done for the right reasons but perhaps the wrong motivations. Folks really need to get past the third point and realize that the second matters: ByteDance answers to the CCP.

• @chellaney Brahma Chellaney on x

  An Example of Transactional Myopia: Trump's threat to ban TikTok is increasingly appearing as a negotiating tactic to force its Chinese owner, ByteDance, to make more concessions to Microsoft, which is seeking to buy at least the US operations of TikTok. https://www.wsj.com/...

• @mikeisaac Rat King on x

  nothing has changed from what is happening in this story this morning, per people familiar with the situation. the deal is “on the table” and up to the White House to make a decision. https://www.nytimes.com/...

• @alexstamos Alex Stamos on x

  @MikeIsaac This is getting bizarre. A 100% sale to an American company would have been considered a radical solution two weeks ago and, eventually, mitigates any reasonable data protection concerns. If the White House kills this we know this isn't about national security.

• @danprimack Dan Primack on x

  Source tells me Trump “as a deal on his desk” whereby Bytedance would sell 100% of TikTok to MSFT. Unclear if current VC shareholders would roll over into it. This is what they thought he wanted.

• @danprimack Dan Primack on x

  What no one — including MSFT and ByteDance — seem to know: What Trump actually wants. Is this about data? Is it about personal animus? Is it about jobs? Is it just anti-China red meat? Does Trump even know the underlying issues? They don't know how to get him to yes.

• @samharrelson Sam Harrelson on x

  Fascinating intersection of pop culture, tech, economics, and politics here... If TikTok does get banned in the US (which in itself would be an interesting project), there are going to be a lot of angry people. And the tech world should take notice of the slippery slope here. htt…

• @vermontgmg Garrett M. Graff on x

  Totally natural in a free market capitalist society for companies to take their lead from the whims of the national leader.... https://twitter.com/...

• @niubi Bill Bishop on x

  Tiktok will probably be a lot cheaper for Microsoft but the end of the week. Brutal, will Zhang yiming blame the loss of many billions of dollars solely on trump and the us, or will he understand the ccp shares much of the blame? https://twitter.com/...

• @michaelcbender Michael C. Bender on x

  Talks for Microsoft to buy TikTok's U.S. operations have been paused as companies seek clarity from the White House https://www.wsj.com/...

• @karaswisher Kara Swisher on x

  As usual, Trump muddies the waters: Talks for Microsoft to buy TikTok's U.S. operations have been paused as companies seek clarity from the White House https://www.wsj.com/...

• @jessicalessin Jessica Lessin on x

  Scoop from me on the Microsoft-TikTok talks being on ice. More coming soon.. https://www.theinformation.com/ ...

• @danprimack Dan Primack on x

  Well, tbh... there isn't anything to negotiate right now. At least there wasn't this morning while Trump was on the golf course. https://twitter.com/...

• @robertwrighter Robert Wright on x

  Whatever he's saying now, I'm betting Trump will proudly take credit if Microsoft indeed winds up buying TikTok. He'll say he coerced the Chinese into putting TikTok into American hands. https://www.wsj.com/... https://twitter.com/...

• @niubi Bill Bishop on x

  ByteDance in terrible negotiating position. only us firms that can really afford it & have tech chops rebuild a prc-free backend r Microsoft, amazon, google & Facebook. The last 2 would have antitrust issues, not clear amzn interested. So only hope is msft, so should get bargain …

• @jacksondahl Jackson on x

  Thinking: What is Trump's motive to ban TikTok over forcing a complete acquisition to a US company. Assuming a complete divest, wouldn't it be definitively in Trump's interest to force the latter? Not that I believe Trump typically acts rationally (or at least unemotionally).. ht…

• @walldo Brandon Wall on x

  Ya, see also: “a source familiar with conversations between the administration and TikTok told BuzzFeed News that Trump is looking for a win, and trying to force one by ensuring the company's US operations would be 100% US-owned.” https://www.buzzfeednews.com/ ... https://twitter…

• @sherman4949 Alex Sherman on x

  I was also told yesterday that the deal Microsoft was talking about was 100% of TikTok. This is a big deal - billions of dollars at stake. https://www.cnbc.com/... https://twitter.com/...

• @carnage4life Dare Obasanjo on x

  The fact that Microsoft wasn't in this week's antitrust hearing means they're the only big tech company with both the money & optics to buy TikTok without issues. Satya truly the GOAT tech CEO if he pulls this off. https://www.bloomberg.com/...

• @danprimack Dan Primack on x

  Seems to me that Bytedance/TikTok may have dodged a bullet if the only fed action is divestment, instead of ban.

• @alexstamos Alex Stamos on x

  Two more thoughts on MSFT+TikTok: 1) What options would MSFT have for getting out of TikTok's just-signed, huge contract with Google Cloud? 2) This makes more sense if you consider that Microsoft just tried and failed to go up against Twitch using an internally built product.

• @lanceulanoff Lance Ulanoff on x

  I can't imagine that Microsoft is the only company looking at TikTok. Apple, Amazon, Facebook must also be in the mix or at least talking about it. https://twitter.com/...