Microsoft bid for TikTok’s U.S. operations rejected by ByteDance

Microsoft said Sunday that ByteDance, the Chinese owner of social video app TikTok, had chosen not to sell the U.S. assets of TikTok to Microsoft. The decision leaves Oracle as the only major bidder for TikTok’s U.S. operations.

“ByteDance let us know today they would not be selling TikTok’s US operations to Microsoft,” Microsoft said in a blog post. “We are confident our proposal would have been good for TikTok’s users, while protecting national security interests. To do this, we would have made significant changes to ensure the service met the highest standards for security, privacy, online safety, and combatting disinformation, and we made these principles clear in our August statement. We look forward to seeing how the service evolves in these important areas.”

An Oracle representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Walmart said in August that it believed working with Microsoft on a possible TikTok deal could be positive for TikTok users and for regulators. 

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