be the majority and ByteDance will have no
ownership in TikTok Global.”
Government-owned media in China have
criticized the deal as bullying and extortion.
ByteDance said Thursday it has applied for a
Chinese technology export license after Beijing
tightened control over exports last month in an
effort to gain leverage over Washington’s attempt
to force an outright sale of TikTok to U.S. owners.
China’s foreign ministry has said the
government will “take necessary measures” to
safeguard its companies but gave no indication
what steps it can take to affect TikTok’s fate in
the United States.
TikTok is also asking a federal court to declare
Trump’s Aug. 6 executive order unlawful.
The Chinese firm said the president doesn’t
have the authority to take these actions under
the national-security law he cited; that the
ban violates TikTok’s First Amendment speech
rights and Fifth Amendment due-process
rights; and that there’s no authority for the
restrictions because they are not based on a
national emergency.