ByteDance accuses of Facebook of “plagiarism and smear." The Chinese company admits it is facing a lot of complex difficulties.
ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, did not elaborate its accusation of Facebook. The Beijing-based firm says that while it is “committed to becoming a global company,” it has faced “all kinds of complex and unimaginable difficulties,” based on a CNBC translation of the Chinese statement.
These include an “intense international political environment, the collision and conflict of different cultures, and the plagiarism and smear of competitor Facebook,” according to the company.
ByteDance only said the accusation was mainly aimed at its domestic Chinese audience. ByteDance's statement comes before Microsoft affirmed it is in negotiations to buy TikTok.
According to Microsoft, its CEO Satya Nadella discussed its plan of purchasing TikTok in the US with President Donald Trump. Microsoft is looking into buying TikTok in Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
TikTok has grappled with different accusations from the US government of stealing user data to give to the Beijing government. TikTok has constantly denied that the accusation.
TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer, who was hired in May from Disney, called out Facebook last week.
“We think fair competition makes all of us better. To those who wish to launch competitive products, we say bring it on. Facebook is even launching another copycat product, Reels (tied to Instagram), after their other copycat Lasso failed quickly,” he wrote in a blog post.
“But let’s focus our energies on fair and open competition in service of our consumers, rather than maligning attacks by our competitor – namely Facebook – disguised as patriotism and designed to put an end to our very presence in the US.”
Banning TikTok in the US
Trump previously said he has the authority to ban TikTok from the US while talking to reporters on Air Force One during the flight back to Washington.
Trump stressed that he will act as soon as Saturday to ban TikTok from the US, according to NBC News.
“As far as TikTok is concerned we’re banning them from the United States,” the president said, labeling the action as “severance.”
He did not mention whether he will implement it through an executive order, or another process, such as a designation, the NBC News states.
“Well, I have that authority. I can do it with an executive order or that,” Trump said.
Trump’s statements came as it was revealed on Friday that Microsoft has had talks about purchasing the TikTok video-sharing mobile app from Chinese owner ByteDance, a source familiar with the situation told CNBC. The source described the talks as have been going on for a while now.
Meanwhile, US general manager of TikTok Vanessa Pappas said the Chinese-owned video-sharing app is “here for the long run”, arguing that the company’s staff were building “the safest app”.
Pappas added that TikTok has received an “outpouring of support” for the app, and expressed her gratitude towards the “millions of Americans” who used it every day. “We’re not planning on going anywhere,” she said.
When asked about data security concerns, she claimed that the firm was behaving responsibly.
Pappas explained: “When it comes to safety and security, we’re building the safest app, because we know it’s the right thing to do. We’re here for the long run, continue to share your voice here and let’s stand for TikTok.”
