China Moves To Block Microsoft’s Acquisition Of TikTok
The potential sale of TikTok to Microsoft might not be so simple, with the Chinese government already threatening to block the acquisition.
China Daily, a state-controlled media outlet in Beijing, said: “China will by no means accept the ‘theft’ of a Chinese technology company, and it has plenty of ways to respond if the administration carries out its planned smash and grab”, in an editorial on Tuesday.
The editorial also claimed that the US had previously threatened to ban TikTok “with the aim of getting what the US administration wants” and accused the Trump administration of “bullying” Chinese tech companies.
While countries like the US, India and even Australia having been highly-critical of TikTok’s relationship with the Chinese government, it seems Chinese users of the app are unhappy with the willingness to give in to President Trump’s demands.
Chinese social media users have been threatening to uninstall ByteDance’s Chinese version of TikTok, named Douyin, since Microsoft made its announcement.
The concerns coming out of China will no doubt be heightened in the coming days, with President Donald Trump having told the press the government wants a “very big” cut of the deal.
“We have all the cards, without us you can’t come into the United States,” Trump said.
“If they make a deal for TikTok, whether it’s the 30 per cent in the United States or the whole company, I say, ‘it’s ok, but if you do that, we’re really making it possible because we’re letting you operate here.”
ByteDance (the company that owns TikTok) founder Zhang Yiming has since been forced to defend the app’s potential sale to the company’s Chinese employees.
“I actually understand (the criticism),” Zhang said in the letter, according to Reuters.
“People have high expectations of a company founded by a Chinese person which is going global but have little information about it. With lots of grievances towards the U.S. government, they tend to lash out at us with harsh criticism.”
In Australia, Federal MPS have reportedly told the Sydney Morning Herald that the sale of TikTok to Microsoft would alleviate the current security concerns around the app.
The government is currently investigating TikTok and how it shares user data as part of two seperate inquiries into foreign interference.
Latest News
Be Quick! Adobe’s ‘Creativity – Who Dares Wins’ Webinar Is Tomorrow @ 11am! Sign-Up For Free!
Advertising has a rich history of being daring. From DDB’s 1960 Lemon ad for Volkswagen, to Salvador Dali designing Chupa Chup’s logo in 1969, to Droga5 pretending it was making a new Crocodile Dundee movie for Tourism Australia, the creative we crave dare to stand out! So, tomorrow B&T has teamed-up with our good friends […]
TAB Launches ‘Calendar Of Play’ Ahead Of Spring Racing Season Via ECAL
Nothing says the thrill of spring racing carnival quite like passing out in rose bed at a race track, does it?
Coming To A Supermarket Near You! Introducing Violet Crumble Milk
Want to add chronic acne and lactose bloating to your list of lockdown ailments? Rejoice, Violet Crumble Milk is here!
Optus Sport Adds Samsung Smart TV Platform
It's not one but two Optus stories today. This one's a lot duller, evident by its lower positioning on the newsletter.
Sports Start-Up MyFavorito’s Appoints FutureBrand Australia
Global sports startup MyFavorito has appointed FutureBrand Australia as its global branding partner with a brief to build a brand as radical as its digital sports sponsorship platform, helping sports clubs worldwide unlock a completely new revenue source.
The Recognition Group Rebrands
One of Australia’s largest groups of privately-owned public relations and marketing agencies has rebranded under one name, The Recognition Group. The group is comprised of three separate agencies: Recognition PR; Outsource and Write Away Communication. The Recognition Group is owned by Liz Marchant [feature image] and Adam Benson, employs 31 full-time staff members and supports […]
“Not Happy Jan!” One Of Australian Advertising’s Finest Moments Celebrates Its 20th Birthday
What a year for 20th anniversaries - Sydney Olympics, this iconic Yellow Pages ad & the godawful 'Who Let The Dogs Out'.
Suncorp Launches First Pinterest Campaign
Suncorp shows it's moving with the times in new Pinterest campaign. Not lowering its premiums but moving with the times.
Optus V Telstra: Federal Court Dismisses Misleading Advertising Claims
Footy team failed to make the finals again this year? Maybe get your sports fix via this ongoing Telstra-Optus fracas.
Bauer Rebrands To Are Media
Are Media apparently stands for "audience, reach & engagement". Thankfully, subscriptions wasn't also one of its cores.
Search For A New Broadcast Deal Continues For Rugby Australia
"Find broadcast sponsor, find jersey sponsor, save sport from oblivion" continue to top Rugby Australia's "to do" list.
Sunday TV Wrap: 10’s Lindy Chamberlain Doco Shows A Little Dingo Fatigue 40 Years On
Dingoes forced to enlist Sweaty Betty PR after once again copping a bad wrap in last night's Lindy Chamberlain doco.
News Media Bargaining Code Will Hurt Small Businesses: Google
Having been on the receiving end of a left-hook & an uppercut of late, Google returns with a haymaker of its own today.
“Whatever The F@ck New Math Is!” Ryan Reynolds Unveils Monster Gin Bottle For Parents Who Home School
This gin ad is sweary, crass and inappropriate. But, hey, all is forgiven when it stars the dreamy Mr Reynolds.
Same Same, But Different: How B2B And B2C Marketing Skills Stack Up
Grab a copy of ADMA's professional skills census by clicking here. Or two copies if that coffee's given you the shakes.
Premium Mixer Brand Fever-Tree Launches ‘Mix With The Best’ Campaign
Premium mixer brand Fever-Tree has launched its largest advertising campaign in Australia to date via indie agency New Colony. With summer on the horizon, Fever-Tree’s latest campaign encourages consumers to ‘mix with the best’ with new messaging that reinforces its brand promise as a premium, high quality mixer complementing light and dark spirits. The out-of-home […]
Song Zu And Eardrum Launch Resonance Sonic Branding
This press photo still provides no clarity to whether Eardrum’s Ralph van Dijk is taller than Song Zu’s Ramesh Sathiah.
Barbecue Brand Weber Signs On To Become Official Partner Of The NRL’s State Or Origin
The Weber barbie is all a bit wanky. Still, it does cook the food through, limiting the threat of botulism & salmonella.
McDonald’s’ ‘Bitten Billboards’ Is One Of The Tastiest Outdoor Campaigns You’ll See
Here's some top work from McDonald's France. Who, we all know, still don't have the metric system.
News Corp’s Digital Marketing Service News Xtend Partners With Singapore Press Holdings
News Corp's News Xtend has expanded to Singapore. Meaning it will need to invest in a new safari suit & pith helmet.
Dettol Announces Cricket Australia Partnership
Cricket Australia set to have the sweetest smelling balls in sport following new Dettol partnership.
NOVA Appoints Luke Minto To Group Commercial Director, Antonell Doyle To Perth Commercial Director
Sadly, radio networks don't give sales staff nicknames like they do their DJs. As per Luke "Mint Man" Minto's promotion.
Facebook Encourages Americans To Enrol To Vote In New Work From Droga5
Facebook enlists Droga5 to urge Americans to vote. Not that there's a heap of choice when you look at the candidates.
Coles, The Heart Foundation & News Corp Team Up For Aussies’ Health
Why is it whenever a Heart Foundation campaign arrives B&T's just wolfed down a triple cheese omelette & five Marlboros?
Sir David Attenborough Becomes The Fastest To Reach 1 Million Instagram Followers
David Attenborough has had a remarkable career, no more so than not being eaten by a protagonist in his documentaries.
Ex-Seven Presenter Ryan Phelan Cleared Of All Assault Charges
B&T never likes to run these sorts of stories. If we had our way, we'd just run Burger King and Nike ads verbatim.
Frameplay Announces Integration With Magnite For In-Game Advertising
Frameplay today announced its first global integration with Magnite to provide advertisers with the ability to buy intrinsic in-game advertising programmatically. The combination of Frameplay’s software developed for in-game advertising and Magnite’s scale and experience in programmatic technology across any format and screen provides advertisers with greater access to engaged audiences. Current RTB programmatic capabilities […]
Amazon In Hot Water For Selling “Black Lives Don’t Matter” Caps
B&T has to admit this nastiness has left us a little gobsmacked. Dare we even say vexed or exaperated even?
Uncle Ben’s Rice Renames Following Racial Stereotyping Complaints
First it was Coon and now Uncle Ben's to undergo name change. Apparently, the pouffe is now weighing-up its options.
Smells Like Copyright Infringement! Designer Sues Saying He Invented Nirvana’s Iconic ‘Smiley Face’ Not Kurt Cobain
A row's erupted over the copyright of Nirvana's iconic 'smiley face'. B&T understood Forrest Gump was the originator.
