TikTok is considering different locations for its new headquarters and London has been touted to be one of those locations.
The short video platform is in discussions with the UK government to relocate its headquarters to London following the heavy scrutiny it is facing in Washington. Reports say it is part of a strategy to distance itself from Chinese ownership.
Though London is one of the several locations being considered, yet no decisions have been made.
For now, there is no clue to what other locations are under consideration. But it has hired aggressively in California this year, including poaching Kevin Mayer, a former Walt Disney Co executive, to be TikTok’s chief executive. He is based in the United States.
TikTok is facing heavy scrutiny in Washington over fears China could force the company to turn over user data. TikTok is owned by China-based ByteDance.
A source said that the company is largely focused on its issues in the United States over the last few weeks, but has not ruled out London as a potential location for its new headquarters.
The company will expectedly boost significantly the size of its workforce in London and other key locations outside of China over the next several years, the source added.
TikTok is yet to comment on the issue.
