Tech Update: The Current State of TikTok—Post Trump’s Inauguration
President Donald Trump has instruct the federal government not to enforce the law banning TikTok nationwide for 75 days.
Words by Damian Nicholas | 2 Minute Read
DAVID HUME KENNERLY / GETTY IMAGES
President Donald Trump has announced a temporary halt to the nationwide ban on TikTok, the immensely popular social media platform, granting its China-based parent company, ByteDance, a crucial 75-day reprieve. This decision comes in the wake of a tumultuous weekend during which TikTok briefly removed itself from the U.S. market, elevating tensions surrounding its future.
We should get 50% of TikTok
– Donald Trump. Republican Party, 47th United State President
The executive order signed early on January 21, reflects Trump’s ongoing negotiations regarding the platform's ownership. During a press briefing, Trump asserted the U.S. deserves a significant stake in TikTok, claiming, "We should get 50% of TikTok," and issued a direct warning to China against obstructing any sales, threatening to impose hefty tariffs up to 100% on Chinese imports considered hostile.
Notably, the ban was initially scheduled to take effect on January 19. In the days leading up to this date, TikTok communicated its intent to restore services to American users, thanking the President for "providing the necessary clarity" to service providers, and expressed its willingness to collaborate with the Trump administration to secure a long-term resolution.
Trump's administration has floated the idea of transforming TikTok into a joint venture, where American interests would take control of at least half of the platform. This approach aims to assuage national security concerns while keeping TikTok operational in the U.S. Shortly before the presidential order, the platform had greeted users with a message indicating its suspension was due to impending legal restrictions.
On January 20, the President reiterated his commitment to ensuring TikTok's operations continue stateside, emphasizing there would be "no liability" for technology companies that took action before the announced deadline. His administration has been under increasing pressure to navigate the complexities of the app's Chinese ownership amid fears over data privacy and national security.
Challenges to the proposed ban have been mounting. The Supreme Court upheld the government's right to impose restrictions based on national security claims, thus paving the way for a potential ban unless ByteDance divested its U.S. operations. Meanwhile, Biden's administration has demonstrated a hands-off approach, stating it does not intend to take action against the ban and suggesting that its full enforcement could even be reconsidered if a sale to American interests occurs.
Amidst this uncertainty, speculation has arisen about the potential sale of TikTok's U.S. operations to figures aligned with Trump, including billionaire Elon Musk, although these discussions remain preliminary. As the clock ticks down on the 75-day grace period, all eyes will be on Washington and the negotiations that lie ahead. Whether TikTok will ultimately transition to American ownership, or face a complete ban, remains a pressing question for millions of American users and the platform's global reach.
Feb 10, 2025
Source Forbes
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