The news:A US TikTok ban will take effect if a sale isn’t completed by the September 17 deadline, per comments from US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
Lutnick said on CNBC that TikTok could “go dark” if China does not agree to sell to a US owner. He also noted that any deal would require the US gaining control over both the app and its algorithms.
The Chinese government, however, appears firmly opposed to selling the app’s source code—a point of contention that previously sparked rumors of a US-specific app with a unique algorithm.
The comments come after Blackstone—one of the key buyers in President Donald Trump’s proposed sale—backed out, reigniting questions about the app’s future.
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