The censorship of TikTok could be resolved without selling to an American company, says an American board member.

The ongoing censorship debate of TikTok continues, with a member of ByteDance's board suggesting that a compromise may be possible.

The statement was made by William E. Ford, an American entrepreneur who is one of the directors of the parent company ByteDance...

Check a previous article if you need a reminder of the story so far, but the key facts are:

• The law requires that the app be sold to an American company.
• Until this happens, TikTok remains banned in the United States.
• So, the app can be used, but American companies cannot host it or offer it for download.
• President Trump's executive order does not change this and is probably illegal.
• Apple continues to respect the law.

Bloomberg reports that Ford has suggested that a compromise agreement may be possible, given the conversations between Trump and the Chinese president.

We are optimistic that we will find a solution," said Ford at the World Economic Forum in Davos. "There are several alternatives on which we can talk to President Trump and his team that do not involve selling the company, allowing it to continue operating, perhaps with some type of change in control, but without having to sell" [...]

I am optimistic about the dialogue we are seeing between President Trump and President Xi," said Ford. "This could help create a much more constructive environment, a level of involvement much higher that could lead to a positive solution.

It is unclear what form of compromise might take, while the law that requires the sale does so.

Ford is the CEO of investment firm General Atlantic, which has an equity stake in ByteDance, giving him a seat at the table.

Solen Feyissa photo on Unsplas