On Friday, the Supreme Court upheld a congressional law banning TikTok, citing its intent to prevent China labeled a “foreign adversary” from accessing the personal data of U.S. users through ByteDance.
The ban was set to take effect on Sunday, and on Saturday night, TikTok went dark. Users attempting to access the app were met with a message stating: “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the US. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.”
However, TikTok reappeared on Sunday with a note thanking users for their patience and crediting “President Trump’s efforts” for its return. Notably, the app was only accessible to those who already had it installed, as it remained unavailable for download on U.S. app stores.
Trump, posting on his social media platform Truth Social, called on companies to ensure TikTok stays online, adding that he would issue an executive order on Monday to delay the ban. This move, he stated, would allow time for a deal to protect national security and involve a U.S. company acquiring a 50% stake in TikTok.
“I would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture. By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands, and allow it to stay up,” Trump said.
The Biden administration, for its part, has indicated they would not enforce the ban, leaving room for the president to direct the Department of Justice (DoJ) to disregard the law. This would allow Apple and Google to continue enabling TikTok downloads without fear of penalties, though it would place the companies in an awkward position of relying solely on executive assurances.
Meanwhile, TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday afternoon as negotiations continue.
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