U.S.-based general counsel for TikTok and its parent company ByteDance, Erich Andersen, is set to make haste and leave as the social media giant continues to suffer increased scrutiny from the U.S. government over national security concerns. This development comes as a pivotal bill now dubbed the ‘Tiktok ban bill’ progresses through Congress that could force the company to sever ties with its Chinese ownership or risk being banned in the United States.
According to this Bloomberg report, Andersen has been at the forefront of negotiations with U.S. officials, aiming to demonstrate that TikTok has sufficient safeguards against potential data breaches and undue influence from the Chinese government. Despite these efforts, a government panel reviewing the security implications of TikTok’s operations in the U.S. remains unconvinced, calling for a Titkok ban vote
The move to phase out Andersen’s role coincides with the recent approval by the U.S. House of Representatives of a bill mandating that TikTok be divested from ByteDance unless it wants to face prohibition nationwide. This supposed ‘Tiktok ban’ update is highlighted amidst escalating concerns about data privacy and foreign interference and is expected to be enacted into law shortly.
Sources close to the matter, who preferred to remain anonymous, indicated that while Andersen is still currently employed by TikTok, his departure from the general counsel role is imminent. The exact reasons for the shift in his professional status at TikTok have not been disclosed. Still, they are closely tied to the ongoing legislative and public relations challenges facing the company.
This change in leadership comes at a critical time for TikTok as it navigates one of its most significant crises on U.S. soil. The company has been under intense pressure to prove its platform does not pose a national security risk, particularly regarding user data and content management.
As the situation develops, TikTok’s strategy in the U.S. is expected to undergo significant changes to align more closely with U.S. regulatory expectations and to mitigate further governmental pushback.
