TikTok CEO quits amid legal battle with US: Report

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA (AA) – The chief executive officer (CEO) of Chinese-owned social media app TikTok has stepped down from his role, Chinese daily Global Times reported on Thursday.

American Kevin Mayer, who became CEO of the popular video app and chief operating officer of its parent company ByteDance this May, resigned on Wednesday, the publication said in a tweet, without giving more details.

Another Beijing-based newspaper, China Daily, reported that Mayer conveyed his decision to leave the company in a memo to employees.

He was tasked to drive the global development of ByteDance, as well as overseeing corporate functions including development, sales, marketing, public affairs, security, moderation, and legal.

Mayer’s decision came at a time when the video-sharing app is facing severe backlash from US President Donald Trump.

On Monday, TikTok started a legal battle with the US government over Trump’s decision to bar US residents and companies from conducting any transactions with TikTok and WeChat, another Chinese social media app, from Sept. 20.

ByteDance argued it filed the lawsuit against the US government “to protect its rights and interests.” It added that the company is beginning to prepare a shutdown of its business in the US.