US Stance on TikTok's Future

United States Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick made a bold statement on Thursday, emphasizing that TikTok must come under US control, including its algorithm, to continue its operations in the country. Speaking to CNBC, Lutnick highlighted the national security concerns posed by Chinese ownership of a platform with over 100 million American users.

The Proposed Deal

Under the proposed arrangement, ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, could retain a minor stake. However, the control over the platform and its technology would need to shift to US buyers. Lutnick pointed out that the ball is now in Beijing's court, stating, "If they don't approve it, then TikTok is gonna go dark."

US-China Trade Relations

While this issue is not officially part of the ongoing US-China trade negotiations, Lutnick acknowledged that it is being discussed informally. He anticipates a decision on the platform's future to be made "very soon."