If TikTok Is Not Sold By Tomorrow: TikTok Will Not Work In America: What Will Trump Do - Laxman Baral Blog
If TikTok Is Not Sold By Tomorrow: TikTok Will Not Work In America: What Will Trump Do

If TikTok Is Not Sold By Tomorrow: TikTok Will Not Work In America: What Will Trump Do The US Supreme Court has upheld a ‘divest or ban’ law aimed at TikTok. The decision raises the possibility of a ban on the video app, which has 170 million US users, and puts its future in the hands of President-elect Donald Trump.

By law, TikTok’s Chinese parent company ByteDance must sell its US ownership of the platform by January 19. This date is the day before Trump takes office as US president again. If the company fails to sell, it will face a nationwide ban.

“There is no doubt that TikTok is a source of expression, engagement and community for more than 170 million Americans,” the Supreme Court said in a unanimous opinion published on Friday, according to the Financial Times. “But Congress has determined that it is necessary to address national security concerns about TikTok’s data collection practices and its ties to foreign adversaries.”

The decision by the nation’s highest court means the video app could be shut down in one of its largest markets. However, the Biden administration has said it will not enforce the ban for the rest of its term.

” It further states, “TikTok should be available to Americans. But under U.S. ownership or other ownership that addresses national security concerns identified by Congress.” Trump posted on Truth Social after the court’s decision, saying, “My decision on TikTok will be made in the near future. But I need time to review the situation.”

He said the court’s decision was expected and that everyone should respect it. Following the decision, TikTok CEO Shawn Chiu gave no assurances about whether TikTok would continue to operate in the U.S. starting Sunday. However, he praised Trump. “I want to thank President Trump for his commitment to working with us to find a solution to keep TikTok available in the U.S.,” he said in a video posted online.

It is also unclear whether Oracle will provide TikTok with cloud and data services in the US. It is also possible that the company may have deliberately gone offline to protect its partners. Apple, Google and Oracle did not immediately respond to any media outlets on the matter. US Attorney General Merrick Garland said, “This decision enables the Justice Department to prevent the Chinese government from using TikTok as a weapon to undermine US national security.”

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco added, “The next phase of efforts to ensure implementation and compliance will proceed over time, once the law goes into effect on January 19.”

The Supreme Court ruling upheld the boldest legislative move of Biden’s tenure. On Thursday, Trump’s incoming national security adviser, Mike Waltz, said, “The law allows for an extension as long as the deal is on the table. That gives President Trump time to keep TikTok going.”

Meanwhile, Bloomberg recently reported that Chinese officials were in talks with billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk to sell the platform. TikTok, however, denied the allegations. Some potential buyers and partners are said to have met with Trump to lobby him. Among them is American media and sports entrepreneur Frank McCourt.

The TikTok law, which passed with strong bipartisan support last year, was intended to raise concerns that Beijing could use TikTok for espionage or propaganda. It is not clear whether China has yet used its relationship with ByteDance Ltd. to access data on American TikTok users. But the court said,

“There is no basis to conclude that the government’s determination that China could do so is not at least a ‘reasonable inference based on substantial evidence.’” TikTok had sought to overturn the law, arguing that it was unconstitutional and violated First Amendment protections for free speech. But the Supreme Court heard the case after a U.S. appeals court rejected TikTok’s challenge to the law.

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