In Bid for TikTok, Microsoft Flexes Its Power in Washington

  • Date: 28-Aug-2020
  • Source: The New York Times
  • Sector:Economy
  • Country:Oman
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In Bid for TikTok, Microsoft Flexes Its Power in Washington

The tech giant, once an example of how not to operate in the nation's capital, now has a successful influence operation there.Microsoft has largely avoided antitrust scrutiny in Washington even though it is valued at more than $1.6 trillion, more than Google or Facebook.Credit...Jeenah Moon for The New York TimesBy Karen Weise and David McCabeSEATTLE — Microsoft's quiet pursuit to buy TikTok suddenly appeared dead a month ago, when President Trump said he wanted to ban the popular social media app for national security reasons. So Brad Smith, the tech giant's president, went to work.He called two dozen lawmakers, telling them that TikTok would be safe in Microsoft's hands. Within 48 hours, he had what he needed.Mr. Trump saw a tweet by Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of the