Tiktok ban update: TikTok back online in the US – Trump wants to grant ByteDance a postponement with an executive order

TikTok was shut down in the US for the time being after a deadline for the forced sale expired. Despite this interruption, Donald Trump, as the new president, plans to grant the app an extension of the deadline. The legal situation remains unclear.

The app TikTok is back online in the USA. As a reason for the step, the operators of the app referred to the assurance of President-elect Donald Trump that there would be no penalties for the platform’s US service providers.

Is tiktok getting banned?  Trump’s Decree to Keep TikTok Running

Trump wants to keep TikTok running in the US for the time being with a decree. After taking office on Monday, he will sign an order that will give Chinese parent ByteDance more time to find a buyer for the app’s offshoot in the US, he wrote on his Truth Social platform on Sunday.

He called on the operators of app stores – especially Google and Apple – not to ban the app. Companies that allow TikTok to continue operating in the US before the decree will not be punished, Trump explained. He had already promised TikTok an additional period of three months.

Legal Ban and Shutdown

On Sunday, a legal ban on the platform, which belongs to the Chinese ByteDance Group, came into force in the USA. The video app shut down shortly before the deadline for a forced sale for the more than 170 million US users and was banned from the Apple and Google app stores.

The US users saw the app as an indication that a law prohibits their operation in the USA. However, it is also said that Trump has fortunately promised to work with TikTok as president to bring the app back.

Clear Situation According to US Law

ByteDance was given 270 days to part with the video app last year under the US Foreign Control of Online Platforms Act. For US service providers who continue to supply TikTok afterwards, the law provides for high penalties of $5,000 per user. This could quickly amount to billions.

TikTok and ByteDance have always refused to even consider a separation in recent months. In the US, there are fears that the Chinese government could gain access to TikTok data of Americans and use the platform to influence public opinion. The companies deny the allegations.

As the deadline approached, it became clear that outgoing President Joe Biden’s administration had no desire to deal with a TikTok blackout on the last day of his term. The White House announced that it would leave the enforcement of the law to Trump.

This was intended to signal that violations of the law by US companies would not be punished. However, TikTok – and, according to media reports, especially the app’s partners, who are threatened with penalties – were not satisfied with this.

TikTok’s Demands and Government’s Response

TikTok demanded direct assurances from the government on Friday, at least to the most important tech service providers. The White House found that it had provided sufficient clarity and considered the announcement a demonstrative action. “We see no reason for TikTok or other companies to act before the Trump administration takes over on Monday,” said spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre.

Trump Discovers His Heart for TikTok

Trump had announced that he would – most likely – initially give TikTok a three-month postponement. The legal basis for this is unclear. According to the law, the US president can grant a 90-day extension of the deadline. However, the prerequisite for this is that there are promising sales negotiations.

In his first term in office, Trump once wanted to force the sale of TikTok himself with a threat of a ban, but failed in court. In the meantime, he discovered his heart for the platform. He was successful on TikTok and was able to appeal to many young people in the race for the White House, Trump argued. “Why would I want to get rid of TikTok?”

However, the law, which was confirmed by the US Supreme Court on Friday, also ties his hands as president. However, he was repeatedly convinced that he could arrange a deal for the app. TikTok could possibly become a bargaining chip in the overall tense relationship between Washington and Beijing.

Another sign of how highly the platform is now in Trump’s favor: TikTok boss Shou Chew is to be present at Trump’s inauguration on Monday, according to media reports.

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