Kevin O'Leary Bids for TikTok's U.S. Assets

Kevin O'Leary, the 'Shark Tank' investor, is leading a bid to acquire TikTok's U.S. assets in a last-minute effort to prevent its ban on January 19. Partnering with Frank McCourt of Project Liberty, O'Leary aims to protect the privacy of 170 million American users and empower creators and small businesses through a potential $300 billion deal. He has indicated the need for support from President-elect Donald Trump to finalize the acquisition, reflecting a shift in Trump's stance from initially supporting a ban to now advocating for TikTok's survival due to its influence on young voters. Despite the ban's legislative backing, a Pew Research Center survey suggests that only 32% of Americans favor the government's intervention. TikTok's parent company, Bytedance, faces scrutiny over data privacy concerns linked to Chinese government laws. As the deadline approaches, TikTok is also exploring legal options to challenge the ban.