TikTok announced that it would be restoring service to U.S. users after blocking it briefly. The company thanked President Trump for providing assurances to its service providers, allowing over 170 million Americans and 7 million small businesses to continue using the app. Trump had previously expressed support for TikTok, even calling for it to remain available to broadcast his upcoming inauguration.
The law banning TikTok, which was set to go into effect, allows for a 90-day extension if certain criteria are met. President Joe Biden had signed a law in April that would ban TikTok unless its Chinese owner, ByteDance, sold the company to a non-Chinese buyer. Both administrations seemed to reverse their positions on TikTok prior to the ban’s implementation.
The future of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain, as even with a potential extension granted by Trump, ByteDance would eventually need to sell the app to a non-Chinese owner. Trump has suggested a joint venture with U.S. ownership, but there are challenges due to foreign ownership caps in the law. Congress could potentially change the law to accommodate such arrangements.
TikTok stated that they are working with President Trump on a long-term solution to keep the app operational in the United States. Despite the uncertainty, the company remains committed to finding a way to continue serving American users.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com
