ByteDance CEO urges TikTok diversification as U.S. pressure mounts
The owner of TikTok wants to focus on adding users of the popular video app in countries outside its strongest markets, as the Chinese-owned company faces political pressure in the United States.
That's according to an internal staff note, seen by Reuters, from the founder and CEO of Beijing-based ByteDance, which owns TikTok.
The note comes after lawmakers in the U.S. recently voiced concerns about the collection of user data and whether China censors content seen by U.S. users.
Launched just two years ago, TikTok is especially popular with U.S. teenagers and young adults, and is the third most downloaded non-gaming app of the year, drawing scrutiny at a time of rising tensions between Washington and Beijing.
The internal memo did not mention the pressure in the U.S. but urged that the firm enhance its capabilities in “handling global public affairs” and strengthening user data protection.
