ByteDance, the operator of the widely popular short video app TikTok, refuted claims that founder Zhang Yiming is in talks with any potential TikTok buyers, despite the company facing a key vote that leaves a total ban dilemma in the US unless it cuts ties with its Chinese parent. An earlier report by The Wall Street Journal said Bobby Kotick, former chief executive of Activision Blizzard, is seeking partners to buy TikTok and has offered the idea to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and others. The House is expected to conduct a full vote this week on the TikTok crackdown bill, following a House committee proposed and passed the bill in a 50-0 vote on March 7. Sayings from US President Biden last week that he would sign the TikTok ban if Congress passes it fuel ByteDance’s embarrassment; however, former President Donald Trump, likely to be the Republican nominee for the 2024 race, claimed he opposed the ban because that would only help Facebook. [WSJ; Jiemian, in Chinese]
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