TikTok has stopped working in the United States. Earlier, the company's management said that if US President Joe Biden's administration does not immediately issue an assurance that it will not enforce the TikTok law, the app will be shut down in the US on January 19. Donald Trump, in turn, announced that when he takes over as president, he will “most likely” suspend the ban for 90 days.
“A law banning TikTok has entered into force in the United States. Which means you can't use TikTok for now,” said the message that appears on users' screens in USAwho want to use the application.
Further in the statement, the company wrote that “we are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work on a solution to restore TikTok's operations.”
The company refers to the assurances of the US president-elect Donald Trumpwho previously stated that he is against this law and will “save the application.” – The 90-day delay is something that will most likely be done because it is reasonable. If I decide to do so, I will probably announce it on Monday, the president-elect said in an interview with NBC on Saturday.
At the same time, during his first term (2017-2021), Trump himself tried to force the application's Chinese owner, ByteDance, to sell TikTok by executive order.
Approximately 170 million Americans use TikTok.
Supreme Court decision
Supreme Court The US on Friday rejected TikTok's complaint against a law passed by Congress last April. The law prohibits distribution and updates of the application in the US market as long as TikTok remains controlled by a Chinese entity, ByteDance.
At the same time, immediately after the Supreme Court issued its decision, the White House declared that it would not enforce the law on the last day of the term of office of the current presidential administration. Joe Biden and leaves the matter to Donald Trump.
TikTok's U.S. management wrote in response to Friday's ruling that “unless the Biden administration immediately issues a final statement that satisfies the most critical service providers by assuring them of no enforcement of the new law, TikTok will unfortunately be forced to shut down on January 19.”
The White House commented on this. – We saw TikTok's latest statement. This is a trick, and we see no reason why TikTok or other companies should take action in the next few days before the Trump administration takes office on Monday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Saturday.
– We have made our position clear and direct: actions to implement this law will fall to the next administration. Therefore, TikTok and other companies should report any doubts to her, added Jean-Pierre.
TikTok banned in the US
Last April, Congress passed a law forcing TikTok to get rid of Chinese control. It was then supported by the vast majority of congressmen from both parties. American services, including the FBI, have long warned about potential threats related to the Chinese platform, including: about the possibility of Beijing using it to surveil or blackmail Americans, as well as to disinformation and manipulate public opinion. Critics pointed to the close ties of Chinese business with the communist authorities and the regulations that oblige companies in the PRC to cooperate with the Chinese services.
TikTok and its defenders argued that the bill violates free speech and violates the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. These arguments were unanimously rejected by the courts of all instances.
ByteDance has consistently announced that it will not sell the platform and denies reports that the Chinese are considering selling it to Elon Musk, who has strong business ties in the PRC. Previously, other businessmen associated with Trump's entourage expressed their willingness to purchase the application, including former head of the Ministry of Finance Steve Mnuchin.
Main photo source: PAP/EPA/JUSTIN LANE