Amazon has conveyed to the White House its interest in acquiring TikTok as a crucial deadline approaches, requiring its parent company, the China-based ByteDance, to either sell the widely-used social media platform or face a ban in the U.S., as reported by CBS News, according to two sources familiar with the ongoing discussions.
According to the New York Times, Amazon has made a bid for the application, citing sources informed about the situation.
Both Amazon and TikTok have opted not to comment publicly on this issue.
This bid from Amazon follows the passage of a bill by lawmakers last year, which established a January 19 deadline for the sale. Former President Trump extended this deadline by 75 days, ultimately setting it for Saturday, April 5, compelling ByteDance to sell its share in the app or face a shutdown in the U.S.
As reported by the New York Times, Amazon submitted its offer in a letter directed to Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, as per sources familiar with the matter.
Experts in the retail industry suggest that Amazon’s pursuit of TikTok highlights the app’s significance for online retailers, given its remarkable ability to drive e-commerce sales.
“While Amazon is the primary destination for product searches, it still functions best for planned and specific purchases,” noted Neil Saunders, managing director at GlobalData, in an email to CBS MoneyWatch. “Though Amazon has made strides in becoming a hub for consumer entertainment and discovery, which fuels impulse buying, TikTok and TikTok Shop dominate that more impulse-driven segment of the market, which is growing faster than traditional e-commerce channels.”
Additionally, AppLovin, a mobile technology firm based in California, has shown interest in acquiring TikTok, according to a source familiar with the discussions, as reported by CBS News.
In comments made to reporters on Air Force One over the weekend, former President Trump addressed the situation regarding TikTok’s sale: “We have numerous potential buyers. There’s considerable interest in TikTok. The final decision will be mine.”
He expressed his desire to see TikTok continue to operate.
The U.S. government has voiced concerns that TikTok poses a national security risk due to its extensive database of user information, including browsing habits, locations, and biometric data, which could potentially be accessed by Chinese authorities.
Earlier this year, in advance of the initial divestiture deadline, ByteDance briefly suspended TikTok’s operations in the U.S. However, Trump swiftly halted the ban, allowing services to resume.
The proposed ban does not affect TikTok users in the U.S. Nevertheless, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, enacted in 2024 under former President Biden, would make it illegal for app stores and web-hosting services to distribute or support TikTok.
