In addition to Frank McCourt with Project Liberty, other investors have expressed interest in acquiring TikTok:
Kevin O’Leary :
The well-known investor from the TV c level contact list show “Shark Tank” plans to form a consortium to acquire TikTok for $20 billion to $30 billion (approximately €18.5 billion to €27.7 billion), according to the International Business Times . O’Leary proposes keeping 20% of the shares with Chinese owners and operating the remaining 80% under US management.
Bobby Kotick :
The former CEO of Activision Blizzard has expressed interest in acquiring TikTok. Kotick reportedly discussed a potential acquisition with potential partners, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, in March 2024.
Steven Mnuchin :
The former U.S. Treasury Secretary plans to lead an investor group seeking to acquire TikTok. Mnuchin intends to rebuild the app’s technology under U.S. leadership to ensure independence from ByteDance.
In addition, companies such as Microsoft, Twitter, and Netflix have been mentioned in the past as potential buyers of TikTok. However, it is unclear whether these companies are currently interested in a takeover.
Decisive days in court
While McCourt’s consortium is working on how to get started its offer, proceedings are underway before the U.S. Supreme Court. TikTok has filed a lawsuit against the impending ban, and a hearing is scheduled for January 10, 2025. The court’s decision could be crucial for the platform’s future in the U.S.
Perspectives and impacts
If McCourt’s takeover bid is successful, it could permanently change the digital landscape in the United States. The transition to a U.S.-controlled sault data open-source platform would not only address security concerns but also create a model for future regulation of digital platforms.
Frank McCourt’s project demonstrates how technological sovereignty and user privacy can be intertwined. The coming weeks will show whether this approach will become reality or whether TikTok will truly disappear from the US.