TikTok could potentially vanish from the US within a few months due to a law passed by Congress in April. This law requires TikTok's owner, ByteDance, to sell the app within nine months or face removal from US app stores. The deadline is set for January 19, just before Donald Trump's term ends. There is a chance that President Joe Biden might extend this deadline by another 90 days, although no confirmation has been provided.
Stakeholders' Response
Despite the looming divestment deadline, many involved with TikTok, including employees, business partners, and creators, are operating normally. It seems that some are anticipating the failure of the ban, as previous attempts have been overturned by judges at both state and federal levels.
Legal Challenges and Court Proceedings
TikTok is currently challenging the divestment law in the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. However, experts suggest that the court tends to support Congress on matters of national security, potentially affecting TikTok's case. The court's decision timeline remains uncertain, but it could eventually move to the Supreme Court.
Public Opinion and Political Support
While there is bipartisan backing for a TikTok ban in Congress, public support for the ban is diminishing. Recent research shows that only 32% of US adults favor a government ban, a significant drop from 50% earlier this year.
Possible Solutions and Future Scenarios
If legal avenues fail to save TikTok, there is speculation that President-elect Trump may intervene to rescue the app, despite previous stances. Options include avoiding the divestment law enforcement or facilitating a sale of TikTok's US assets to a non-Chinese entity. The latter appears to be a favored approach among some members of Congress.
Broader Implications and Additional Companies
TikTok's situation may influence other companies under ByteDance, such as CapCut and Lemon8, which could also fall under the same regulatory scrutiny. The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act could impact any app owned by a foreign adversary that allows user-generated content.
Concerns over data security and national interests have made TikTok a central player in US-China trade tensions. The fear that sensitive user data could be shared with the Chinese government has raised alarms among officials. The outcome of TikTok's future could set the stage for how other similar apps are handled under this legislation.
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By: dwhateley@businessinsider.com (Dan Whateley)
Title: TikTok Ban in the US: Will It Happen?
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-ban-details-when-how-legal-cases-trump-options
Published Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2024 13:11:02 +0000
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