TikTok stated on Sunday that it would resume service in the United States following President Donald Trump’s inauguration. Earlier that day, the video app received a reprieve from its ban in the country.
President Trump has allowed Truth Social additional time to find a buyer, giving the Chinese-owned video app a lifeline before facing a total shutdown. He proposed that a US company acquire 50% of the stake, signaling his intention to sign an executive order in support of this proposal.
“By doing this, we will save TikTok, ensure it remains in good hands, and keep it afloat,” Trump declared. “Without approval from the US, TikTok would not exist. With our approval, its value could reach hundreds of billions, even trillions of dollars.”
Late Saturday, TikTok suspended its services for approximately 170 million users in the US.
In April, Congress passed a law requiring TikTok, now owned by ByteDance, to sell to a non-Chinese entity or face expulsion from the US. The Supreme Court upheld this provision, leading to the app’s decision to shut down temporarily. The law prohibits the distribution, maintenance, or updates of TikTok in the US if a sale is not secured.
A message popped up for US users of the app from Saturday night to Sunday afternoon, stating, “A US law has been enacted banning TikTok, hence its current unavailability.” Trump advocated for a ban during his previous presidential campaign but found it challenging to enforce it in the 2024 election. He made a last-minute attempt to intervene on TikTok’s behalf upon realizing its substantial user base.
TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, expressed gratitude to President Trump for his efforts to maintain the app’s availability in the US. He anticipated attending Trump’s inauguration personally.
In response to Trump’s Sunday message, the company affirmed in a statement its “restoration of services” and assured service providers that there would be no repercussions for enabling TikTok. They thanked President Trump for this action, emphasizing their positive impact on millions of Americans and small businesses, supporting the First Amendment, and opposing arbitrary censorship. They expressed eagerness to work with Trump towards a long-term solution for TikTok in the US.
Several TikTok users reported that the app was fully functional again soon after the announcement.
Concerns about TikTok revolve around the potential access of personal data of US users by the Chinese government and manipulation of the app’s algorithms to control user content. Chu refuted any involvement of the Chinese government in the app, clarifying that ByteDance is not acting as an agent of China or any other country as of 2023.
Reports surfaced last week suggesting that Trump was considering extending the ban through an executive order. The bill allowing the ban on TikTok includes a provision that allows the president to extend the sale deadline by 90 days if sufficient progress is demonstrated, but evidence of substantial progress is required for such an extension to be granted.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson announced his support for banning TikTok in a NBC press event on Sunday. He interpreted Trump’s call to “save TikTok” as a directive to facilitate a legitimate sale and change of ownership for the app.
Lawmakers are primarily concerned about the Chinese Communist Party rather than the app itself, emphasizing the need for ByteDance to complete the sale of TikTok within 270 days to avert potential national security risks.
Some Republican officials oppose the idea of extending the ban’s timeframe, noting that the law should be enforced as written. Senators Tom Cotton and Pete Ricketts stated that China must sever all ties with TikTok and agree to a qualified sale for the app to be considered safe for US users.
Several Democratic lawmakers urged President Biden to allow TikTok a grace period before any shutdown, emphasizing the app’s importance to content creators, privacy concerns, and national security.
Investor Kevin O’Leary reportedly offered TikTok’s owners a $20 billion buyout, while other reports suggest a potential merger with TikTok US or a sale to Elon Musk, which TikTok dismissed as untrue.
Source: www.theguardian.com
