Tue Jan 14 20:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Last-Minute Bid to Save TikTok from US Ban
**New York, NY** – Just days before a US ban on TikTok is set to take effect, a surprising bid to purchase the popular social media platform has emerged. Project Liberty, an internet advocacy group founded by businessman Frank McCourt, has submitted a proposal to ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese owner, to acquire the app.
The proposal, part of an initiative called “The People’s Bid for TikTok,” aims to restructure the app under American ownership, prioritizing user safety and data control. McCourt stated that the plan would allow millions of Americans to continue using TikTok without relying on the current algorithm, circumventing the impending ban.
While financial details remain undisclosed, a Project Liberty spokesperson confirmed that ByteDance has received the offer. TikTok has yet to comment publicly.
This eleventh-hour bid comes as the Supreme Court prepares to hear oral arguments on Friday regarding the legality of the ban, signed into law by President Biden last April. ByteDance has repeatedly challenged the ban, citing First Amendment concerns. A recent court ruling upheld the ban, citing national security.
TikTok previously argued that the ban would cost US small businesses and creators $1.3 billion in revenue within a single month, highlighting the app’s significant economic impact. The ban, officially known as the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, prohibits distribution and maintenance of the app under Chinese ownership.
Project Liberty’s plan involves migrating TikTok to an open-source platform, giving users more control over their data. The group is partnered with Guggenheim Securities and Kirkland & Ellis, and boasts support from prominent figures including investor Kevin O’Leary and World Wide Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee. The initiative is not a non-profit organization, as previously reported. The outcome remains uncertain as the Supreme Court weighs in on the ban’s legality.
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