TikTok Service Restored in US After Trump Intervention
TikTok users in the United States experienced a roller coaster of a day on Sunday, with the popular video-sharing app going dark in response to a federal ban, only to have service restored hours later after President-elect Donald Trump intervened, Al Jazeera reports.
Trump announced his intention to pause the ban, giving TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, more time to find an approved buyer.
The day began with millions of TikTok users in the US waking up to discover they could no longer access the app or platform. This followed actions by Google and Apple, who removed TikTok from their digital stores to comply with a US law mandating that ByteDance divest its US operations by Sunday or face a ban. The law, passed with bipartisan support in April, cited national security concerns related to TikTok’s Chinese ownership.
However, shortly after the shutdown, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to announce plans to issue an executive order on his first day in office to “extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect.” Trump also declared that no penalties would be imposed on companies who helped keep TikTok operational prior to his order.
Following Trump’s announcement, TikTok said on X that it had received “the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans.” Some users soon reported that the app was working again and TikTok’s website was also accessible, although it remained unavailable for download from the Apple and Google app stores.
Underlying Security Concerns, Ownership Debate
The federal law behind the ban was driven by concerns that TikTok’s Chinese ownership could allow the Chinese government to access extensive amounts of US user data and manipulate the app’s algorithm. The outgoing Biden administration defended the law in court, highlighting these risks. However, while US officials have repeatedly raised concerns, no public evidence has been presented to prove that TikTok has shared data with Chinese authorities or altered its algorithm to serve Chinese interests. ByteDance has denied any wrongdoing and resisted calls to sell its US operations.
The law allows for a 90-day extension if a viable sale is underway, but ByteDance has previously stated it would not sell. Trump added another layer to the situation, stating that he “would like the United States to have a 50 percent ownership position in a joint venture,” although it is unclear whether he was referring to a government entity or a US company.
The US Supreme Court upheld the law mandating the ban on Friday, putting further pressure on TikTok. The law imposes steep fines for non-compliance, potentially reaching $5,000 per user for companies that fail to enforce the ban. Oracle, which hosts TikTok’s servers, is also legally obligated to enforce the ban.
Competitive Landscape, Potential Solutions
The forced absence of TikTok has presented opportunities for US-based competitors such as Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. Another Chinese platform, Xiaohongshu, also known as “Little Red Book,” has gained traction among American users and became the most downloaded app on Apple’s US store this week.
Several last-minute solutions have been proposed to keep TikTok operational, including a plan from Perplexity AI, an AI startup backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, to merge with TikTok’s US business, allowing ByteDance to retain partial ownership. A $20 billion bid from a consortium led by Canadian investor Kevin O’Leary and billionaire Frank McCourt is also under consideration.
