Pierre, S.D. – Even though a deal has yet to be made to acquire the company, South Dakota is continuing to make the case for TikTok to potentially set up their U.S. headquarters in the state.
Governor Larry Rhoden is holding a press conference on Friday to talk more about the possibility alongside Reid Rasner.
Rasner, a Wyoming billionaire, has made offers to buy TikTok from its China-based parent company.
TikTok has come under scrutiny over national security concerns, and worries from government leaders that China is using the platform to spy on Americans.
In a statement about the upcoming news conference, the governor’s office says it will focus on the “potential of South Dakota as a destination” since there has yet to be a deal to acquire TikTok.
“South Dakota was a key catalyst in the movement to protect Americans from being spied on by the Chinese Communist Party,” wrote Rhoden. “So it would be just poetic for South Dakota to be the landing spot for a new and improved TikTok.”
Following the press conference, the governor and Rasner will discuss the state’s cybersecurity capabilities by touring several sites in the Sioux Falls region, including the SDN Communications Data Center.
