<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
     xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
     xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
     xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
     xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
     xmlns:georss="http://www.georss.org/georss"
     xmlns:geo="http://www.w3.org/2003/01/geo/wgs84_pos#"
     xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/">
    <channel>
        <title><![CDATA[Microsoft eyes TikTok purchase as Trump cracks down on China app]]></title>
        <atom:link href="https://usagag.com/2020/07/31/microsoft-eyes-tiktok-purchase-as-trump-cracks-down-on-china-app/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
        <link>https://usagag.com/2020/07/31/microsoft-eyes-tiktok-purchase-as-trump-cracks-down-on-china-app/</link>
        <lastBuildDate>Fri, 31 Jul 2020 21:09:29 +0000</lastBuildDate>
        <sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
        <sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
        <generator>https://usagag.com</generator>
        <media:content url="/uploads/2020/08/microsoft-eyes-tiktok-purchase-as-trump-cracks-down-on-china-app-scaled.jpg" medium="image">
            <media:title type="html">Microsoft eyes TikTok purchase as Trump cracks down on China app</media:title>
        </media:content>
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Microsoft is in talks to acquire TikTok, the immensely popular social media app focused on uplifting videos, in a move that could prevent the Trump administration from banning it from the US, according to reports.</p><p>The Seattle tech giant founded by Bill Gates is in discussions to buy TikTok in a deal valued in the tens of billions, according to Fox Business. The acquisition talks come as TikTok, which is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, has come under intense scrutiny by lawmakers amid concerns that the Chinese government is using the app to tap into user data.</p><p>New of the talks come as Trump confirms that he&#8217;s looking at taking steps to ban the app in the US&#8211; a move that <strong>Bloomberg report</strong>ed could happen as soon as Friday.</p><p>“We’re looking at TikTok,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday. “There are a couple of options but a lot of things are happening, so we’ll see what happens. But we are looking at a lot of alternatives with respect to TikTok.”</p><p>An acquisition would instantly turn Microsoft — a hot tech name in the 1990s that is now  primarily fueled by its massive cloud computing arm — into one of the biggest names in social media.</p><p>&#8220;This basically fell right into their lap,&#8221; Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives told The Post. &#8220;While the FAANG names are up to their eyeballs in regulatory scrutiny, Microsoft could really gain a significant advantage if they acquire this asset.&#8221;</p><p>Ives added that a marquee name like Microsoft would likely ease any US concerns about TikTok&#8217;s relationship to China.</p><p>&#8220;Microsoft is as American as apple pie,&#8221; he said.</p><p>It&#8217;s not just Trump who&#8217;s concerned about TikTok. Joe Biden&#8217;s presidential campaign this week <strong>ordered staffers</strong> to delete TikTok off of their phones, while the House of Representatives earlier this month voted to ban federal employees from downloading TikTok onto government-issued phones.</p><p>TikTok has said it has never provided user data to China and that it would not do so if asked, saying in a statement that it has “no higher priority than promoting a safe app experience that protects our users’ privacy.”</p><p>The company last month <strong>tapped former Disney executive</strong> Kevin Mayer to be its US CEO.</p><p>And a group of US investors, including Silicon Valley big shot Sequoia Capital, were <strong>reportedly in discussions</strong> last week to buy the platform&#8217;s American business in hopes of lessening scrutiny on the app.</p><p>&#8220;While we do not comment on rumors or speculation, we are confident in the long-term success of TikTok,&#8221; a spokesperson said. &#8220;Hundreds of millions of people come to TikTok for entertainment and connection, including our community of creators and artists who are building livelihoods from the platform.&#8221;</p>]]></content:encoded>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[USAGAG]]></dc:creator>
            </channel>
</rss><!--Time: 0.010185956954956-->