Name: Microsoft is reportedly in talks to buy TikTok's US operations
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Microsoft is reportedly in talks to buy TikTok's US operations

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Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification.An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders. It often indicates a user profile.Redeem nowGet the latest tech news &amp; scoops — delivered daily to your inbox.Something is loading.President Donald Trump reportedly TikTok's China-based parent company, ByteDance, to sell the viral-video app's US operations — and Microsoft has emerged as a potential buyer. Friday afternoon that Trump was planning to sign an executive order directing ByteDance to "divest its ownership" of TikTok's US operations. Reports then emerged, Fox Business Network's Charles Gasparino, of Microsoft's possible interest in acquiring TikTok. Bloomberg that other bidders are also interested in TikTok, though it did not give specific names.TikTok, which has more than 2.3 billion downloads worldwide, has recently been valued between and .&nbsp;It's not quite clear where TikTok would fit into Microsoft's business. Microsoft's major presence in social networking is LinkedIn, which is aimed at working professionals. Microsoft recently shut down Mixer, its video-game streaming service that competed with Amazon's Twitch.&nbsp;It's also worth noting that TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, was founded in 2012 .In a statement to Business Insider, a TikTok representative said, "While we do not comment on rumors or speculation, we are confident in the long-term success of TikTok." Microsoft declined to comment.But that buying TikTok could win Microsoft accolades from the app's millions of users who are worried about the Trump administration's threats, first made in early July, to ban the app in the US. The Trump administration has been weighing banning TikTok over concerns about its ties to China and the potential for its government to access user data and content moderation.Since TikTok came to the US in 2018 and found&nbsp;, lawmakers and privacy advocates have scrutinized the amount of access and influence the Chinese government is afforded over TikTok's user data and content moderation through its parent company, ByteDance. TikTok has said it is not subject to Chinese data laws and would not comply with such a demand from China's s government.But TikTok's China ties have attracted even more attention in recent months after the president and administration officials they're weighing a ban on the app. One possibility, raised by the White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow , could see TikTok pull out of China and operate as an "independent American company."The resulting uncertainty in TikTok's future has reportedly led ByteDance executives and investors to explore alternatives to avoid a US ban.&nbsp;Earlier this month, a group of ByteDance's US investors, including Sequoia Capital and General Atlantic, in TikTok, according to . But that those talks had failed, because of concerns that such a takeover "wouldn't pass muster with the Trump administration."It's unclear what power Trump has to force a foreign company such as ByteDance to "divest" from TikTok's US operations.&nbsp;It's also unclear how TikTok or ByteDance will respond to an order, but Trump's move would represent an escalation in the administration's attacks on TikTok and other Chinese tech companies.Are you a Microsoft employee with insight to share? Contact reporter Ashley Stewart via encrypted messaging app Signal (+1-425-344-8242) or email (astewart@businessinsider.com).Are you a TikTok or ByteDance employee? Contact reporter Paige Leskin at using a non-work device. Open DMs on Twitter .Sign up for notifications from Insider! Stay up to date with what you want to know.Subscribe to push notificationsAn icon in the shape of a lightning bolt.Keep readingIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification.

Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification.An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders. It often indicates a user profile.Redeem nowGet the latest tech news &amp; scoops — delivered daily to your inbox.Something is loading.President Donald Trump reportedly TikTok's China-based parent company, ByteDance, to sell the viral-video app's US operations — and Microsoft has emerged as a potential buyer. Friday afternoon that Trump was planning to sign an executive order directing ByteDance to "divest its ownership" of TikTok's...

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Paige Leskin is a tech reporter at Business Insider. She covers social media platforms, internet culture, and anything weird you may notice on the world wide web.  She writes about social media, influencers and personalities, companies like Instagram and TikTok, and trends taking over the internet. She's covered content moderation on YouTube, controversies around big names like Elizabeth Holmes and Caroline Calloway, and explainers on using the newest features for your favorite apps.  Contact Paige at pleskin@businessinsider.com or at @paigeleskin on Twitter. If you prefer to get in touch more securely, you can contact her via Signal at +1 (201) 312-4526.

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Paige Leskin

Ashley Stewart

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Microsoft is reportedly in talks to buy TikTok's US operations

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