Chinese language tech firm ByteDance mentioned on Monday it was contemplating transferring the headquarters of its TikTok video sharing platform abroad, following a British media report that the unit might relocate to London.
TikTok is below heavy fireplace from US President Donald Trump and different American politicians over considerations that it poses a nationwide safety threat, and Microsoft has emerged as a potential purchaser of TikTok’s US operations.
Britain’s Solar newspaper reported on Monday that ByteDance’s founders would quickly announce their intention to arrange store for TikTok in London, the place different tech majors comparable to Google and Fb have a powerful presence.
Requested in regards to the report, a spokesperson for ByteDance mentioned a global transfer for TikTok was into account.
“ByteDance is dedicated to being a world firm. In gentle of the present state of affairs, ByteDance has been evaluating the potential of establishing TikTok’s headquarters exterior of the US, to higher serve our international customers,” the spokesperson mentioned.
Britain’s authorities mentioned earlier on Monday that the placement of TikTok’s headquarters was a call for the corporate.
“It could be a industrial determination, and I am not conscious that one has been taken,” a spokesman for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson mentioned.
Any transfer by ByteDance comes at a fraught time in relations between China and the West, exemplified by the battle over use in 5G telecom networks of equipment made by China’s Huawei.
Britain had been attempting to stroll a tightrope over Huawei till it sided with Washington final month by banning the corporate from its 5G networks from 2027.
TikTok, whose stars comparable to Zachary King and Charli D’Amelio have gained worldwide recognition for his or her temporary video performances, has additionally been within the firing line of US President Donald Trump over supposed safety considerations.
Trump nevertheless reversed course on a plan to ban the app after Microsoft emerged as a potential purchaser of TikTok’s US operations and he gave the 2 companies 45 days to give you a deal.
London has additionally clashed with Beijing over the imposition of a brand new safety regulation in Hong Kong however Johnson has mentioned he’s a Sinophile, and the British authorities would welcome one other massive tech funding in Britain significantly because the coronavirus disaster sends the financial system right into a deep recession and potential commerce disruptions loom over Brexit.
