Amazon Makes Last-Minute Bid for TikTok Amid Looming April 5 Ban

Amazon Bids for TikTok Amidst Looming U.S. Ban According to a report from The New York Times, Amazon has submitted an offer to acquire the popular video-sharing platform, TikTok, ahead of a potential ban in the United States set for April 5th. The acquisition is being considered as part of the ongoing requirement for ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, to divest its ownership of the app to an American entity by the deadline.

TikTok was initially scheduled to be banned on January 19th, 2025, but this was postponed. Despite the extension, the original law requiring divestment remains in place, leading to the current urgency. Amazon's bid comes as a significant development, though ByteDance is reportedly not taking the offer seriously.

President Trump has asserted that an acquisition will be finalized before the April 5th deadline and has considered extending it if necessary. The situation highlights the ongoing tension between U.S. regulators and Chinese tech companies.