Following concerns about a potential ban of TikTok in the United States that could deprive 170 million Americans of its use within months, discussions have surfaced regarding possible solutions to overturn the decision. Others have begun to inquire about the app's origins and whether Beijing could influence its sale. Observers are questioning the origin of TikTok and whether it is indeed Chinese, especially since it has never operated in mainland China. This is a point frequently emphasized by the company's Singaporean CEO, Shou Chew, when questioned by U.S. officials.
Is TikTok Chinese? On the surface, the answer may seem to be no, as TikTok was first established in California in April 2015, according to U.S. court documents. The app has never been available in mainland China, although it was accessible in Hong Kong until July 2020, when it withdrew shortly after Beijing imposed a controversial national security law in the city, as reported by CNN. At that time, TikTok was trying to distance itself from China amid increasing pressures from former President Donald Trump's administration.
However, TikTok ultimately has an owner, through a complex multi-layered corporate structure, in ByteDance, a privately-owned tech giant. The app is owned by TikTok LLC, a limited liability company established in Delaware and based in Culver City, California. This LLC is controlled by TikTok Ltd., which is registered in the Cayman Islands and headquartered in Shanghai, according to CNN. This company is ultimately owned by ByteDance Ltd., which was also founded in the Cayman Islands and is headquartered in Beijing.
Additionally, ByteDance's website indicates that the company developed TikTok as a global short video product and officially launched it in May 2017. Six months later, it acquired its competitor Musical.ly and then merged it with the main platform. According to TikTok's own website, all of its subsidiaries worldwide fall under ByteDance Ltd.