Wyoming Entrepreneur Claims Acquiring Algorithm Is Essential for TikTok Ownership

When it comes to any agreement, the intricacies matter. The acquisition of TikTok is no exception.

Both the Biden and Trump administrations have voiced concerns regarding the video application’s parent company, ByteDance, which is based in China and subject to the influence of the Chinese Communist Party, leading calls for a change in ownership.

Wyoming entrepreneur Reid Rasner, who has made an offer nearing $50 billion for TikTok, emphasizes the importance of its algorithm, given its vast user base of around 2 billion, including approximately 170 million Americans.

“TikTok cannot exist without the algorithm, and it will never be the same without it. We require the algorithm. We need to sever ties with ByteDance and China,” he told The Epoch Times in a February 25 interview.

Rasner further explained, “You cannot replicate what they’ve achieved without the algorithm,” warning that another Chinese entity could seize control and create a similar app, thereby threatening U.S. national security and user safety. He noted that China could still have access to user data, potentially influencing them.

If ByteDance and China accept his deal, Rasner plans to introduce features aimed at safeguarding children in the application.

Rasner revealed that he has spoken with families adversely affected by TikTok and assures that there will be “some exciting additions” to the platform if the acquisition proceeds. While he did not divulge specifics about these changes, he promised more information “soon.”

A parental consent feature will be incorporated into the revamped application. “Parents must take charge,” Rasner asserted.

“I believe it is essential for parents to parent, first and foremost,” he stated. “I guarantee the platform will include a space for children if their parents approve, but it will not resemble the current offerings available for kids,” he clarified.

He referred to the existing operation of TikTok as “a genuine national security risk.”

Supporters of TikTok argue that the platform has been beneficial for small businesses, showcasing numerous ads with testimonials from local enterprises claiming that the application played a crucial role in their success.

“In the past week, I’ve engaged with hundreds of business owners who rely on TikTok for their operations. This is their livelihood, their avenue for sales,” Rasner said.

If he successfully acquires TikTok, Rasner pledged to honor not just user privacy but also freedom of expression.

Together with a cohort of investors, Rasner has proposed $47.45 billion for TikTok—over $3 billion more than Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter. He characterized the offer as “fair” and “robust.”

Rasner refrained from discussing ByteDance’s response to the offer, citing ongoing discussions between his legal advisors and the company as well as Chinese authorities.

The deadline for completing the acquisition is April 5.

Although a law passed by Congress last year to prohibit TikTok was enacted on January 19—just a day prior to President Donald Trump taking office—Trump extended the deadline for ByteDance to divest from TikTok by an additional 75 days on his inauguration day.

If Rasner’s proposal is accepted, TikTok would establish its headquarters in Wyoming.

“We aim to create a technological presence in the Mountain West region,” he stated. “We will operate the servers, data storage facilities, and TikTok right here using Wyoming’s plentiful, clean energy—our natural gas.

“Our new nuclear projects are clean, incorporating Wyoming coal, and we will bolster both the regional and national economy by bringing this initiative to fruition. It represents something exceptional and is set to establish a new technological threshold for the Mountain West states.”