It's reported that TikTok is getting ready to replace a top official who played a major role in persuading the U.S. government that the company was taking adequate steps to address worries about its ties to China's national security.
Erich Andersen, who serves as the general counsel for TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance Ltd. in the U.S., has been leading talks with the American government for years to demonstrate that the app was taking sufficient measures to prevent China from accessing American users' data or controlling their feed content.
Despite these efforts, an interagency government panel evaluating the app's security and lawmakers in Washington considering legislation to force its sale have not been convinced. The U.S. House recently passed a bill that would require TikTok to be sold by its Chinese parent or face a ban in the U.S.
According to sources, the company is making plans for Andersen to step down from his current position. However, one source mentioned that Andersen is still working with the company at present.
Andersen directed inquiries to the company's communications team.
TikTok spokesperson Alex Haurek denied the claim that the company is set to remove Andersen from his role, stating, "That is 100% false," in response to a request for comment.
The legislation aiming to either force the sale of TikTok or ban it is advancing towards becoming a law, with the Senate set to pass the measure soon. President Joe Biden has expressed his readiness to sign the legislation, requiring TikTok to be sold within a year.
Andersen joined the social media company in 2020 after working at Microsoft Corp., where he held the position of corporate vice president and chief IP counsel.
