Science & Tech1 min(s) read
Published 13:14 27 Aug 2020 GMT
The CEO of TikTok, Kevin Mayer, has left the company just months after his appointment following pressure from President Donald Trump for its Chinese owner to sell the popular app.
The short-video-sharing app is being compelled to sell its US business by the Trump administration, which continues to allege that its ties to China render it a national security threat.
In an executive order signed by Trump on August 6, the president alleged that China may potentially have access to "Americans’ personal and proprietary information," due to the data collected by TikTok.
The app has vehemently denied these allegations, and claims that US user data is contained within the nation, with a backup in Singapore. They say that their data centers are located outside China, meaning that the information is not subject to Chinese law.
Per CNBC, Mayer wrote in a letter to employees:
"In recent weeks, as the political environment has sharply changed, I have done significant reflection on what the corporate structural changes will require, and what it means for the global role I signed up for.
"Against this backdrop, and as we expect to reach a resolution very soon, it is with a heavy heart that I wanted to let you all know that I have decided to leave the company."
"I want to be clear that this decision has nothing to do with the company, what I see for our future, or the belief I have in what we are building. Yiming understands my decision and I thank him for his support on this."
Mayer continued:
"At the same time, I understand that the role that I signed up for--including running TikTok globally--will look very different as a result of the US Administration’s action to push for a sell off of the US business.
"I’ve always been globally focused in my work, and leading a global team that includes TikTok US was a big draw for me."
Read the entire letter, here.
