Microsoft is now looking to acquire TikTok's global operations
Earlier this week Microsoft officially confirmed that it is negotiating the acquisition of TikTokâs operations in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Now insiders report that the software giant is looking to expand the scope and include Europe and India in the deal, perhaps even buying TikTokâs global operations.
The Financial Times writes that Microsoft and ByteDance (which owns TikTok) were in negotiations to add India to the deal, but that reportedly fell through. A source told Reuters that Microsoft is yet to approach ByteDance with the offer to fully acquire the social network.
The US company stated that negotiations will end by September 15 whether thereâs a deal or not. President Trump reinforced that deadline by saying that he will sign an executive order to close TikTokâs US arm unless an American company (Microsoft or another) takes control by September 15.
The President is now also threatening a ban on WeChat unless a similar deal with a US company is reached. The ban would force US-based Apple and Google to remove the WeChat from their app stores, even in China.