Key Points
- The House China committee met with Amazon to address security concerns over its recent partnership with TikTok.
- Lawmakers view TikTok’s connection with ByteDance as a national security threat and urge caution.
- A law signed by President Biden requires ByteDance to divest TikTok by January 2025 or risk a U.S. ban.
- President-elect Trump has pledged to “save” TikTok, differing from his previous stance on banning the app.
Amazon’s recent partnership with TikTok has drawn significant concern from the U.S. House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. Representatives from Amazon met with the committee recently to address lawmakers’ apprehensions over the e-commerce giant’s collaboration with TikTok. The agreement, announced in August, allows TikTok users to link their accounts with Amazon, enabling them to shop on Amazon without leaving the app. This integration raises security concerns due to TikTok’s ownership by China-based ByteDance.
A spokesperson from the committee expressed that the partnership with TikTok could pose “a grave national security threat,” particularly given the ongoing scrutiny of TikTok’s data handling and links to ByteDance. Citing these concerns, the committee emphasized that it was “dangerous and unwise” for Amazon to engage in this partnership. According to Bloomberg, which initially reported the story, the meeting occurred in September.
Neither Amazon nor TikTok responded to requests for comment on the matter. Meanwhile, TikTok’s future in the U.S. hangs in the balance. President Joe Biden signed legislation in April mandating that ByteDance divest its ownership of TikTok by January 19, 2025. Failure to do so would bar app stores and hosting services from offering the app in the United States.
However, there may be an alternative path for TikTok if President-elect Donald Trump intervenes. Throughout his recent campaign, Trump pledged to “save” TikTok despite previously attempting to ban the app during his first term due to security concerns. This shift in perspective aligns with Trump’s interactions with billionaire Jeff Yass, a significant Republican donor and co-founder of Susquehanna International Group, which owns a substantial 15% stake in ByteDance. Yass holds a 7% ownership in ByteDance, influencing Trump’s stance on the popular social media platform.
As Amazon, TikTok, and lawmakers navigate these complex issues, the future of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain, with national security concerns at the forefront of discussions.
