TikTok Restores Service In US, Thanking Trump

Following a law enacted to ban the wildly popular app on grounds of national security, TikTok reinstated service in the US on Sunday after briefly going awry.

Although the incoming administration of President Joe Biden had earlier stated that it would not impose any ban, TikTok credited President-elect Donald Trump, who retakes office on Monday, with making the reversal possible.

Late on Saturday, the video-sharing app was shut down in the United States as ByteDance’s Chinese owners’ deadline for selling its US subsidiary to non-Chinese investors approached.

Trump promised to postpone the ban until an executive order was issued earlier on Sunday as millions of dismayed users found themselves barred from the app.

Additionally, he demanded that the US take up a portion of TikTok in a post on his Truth Social platform.

The president-elect said he “would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture”, arguing that the app’s value could surge to “hundreds of billions of dollars — maybe trillions”.

“By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands”, wrote Trump, who had previously backed a TikTok ban and during his first term in office made moves towards one.

In a statement posted on X following Trump’s comments, TikTok said it “is in the process of restoring service”.

“We applaud President Trump for giving our service providers the assurance that they won’t be held accountable for providing TikTok to more than 170 million Americans,” said the president.

TikTok, which was back online in the United States by Sunday afternoon, did not address Trump’s call for part American ownership of the app.

If the White House can demonstrate progress toward a viable deal, the law allows for a 90-day delay in the ban, but ByteDance has so far vehemently rejected any sale.

Trump will be in charge of enforcing the law, according to the Biden administration.

When a video goes viral, TikTok is praised for its ability to turn ordinary users into famous people, from grandmothers who share cooking advice to teenage dancers.

However, it is full of disinformation, and its Chinese ownership has long raised concerns about American national security both domestically and internationally.

The US Supreme Court upheld the bill’s status on Friday, leading to Sunday’s blackout, pending any sale.

Trump has since acknowledged that the app helped him connect with younger voters after signing an executive order to raise the price of the app in 2020.

However, unless ByteDance ultimately sells, it is unclear what the incoming president can do to lift the ban.

“Congress wrote this law to be virtually president-proof”, warned Adam Kovacevich, chief executive of industry trade group Chamber of Progress.

– ‘ I love TikTok ‘ –

The law also mandates that Apple and Google block new downloads, with the companies liable for fines of up to $5, 000 per user for each app accessed.

Oracle, which hosts TikTok’s servers, would also be legally obligated to enforce the ban.

Other social media platforms, including X, received thousands of memes and comments decrying the temporary shutdown on Sunday. Some of the posts were more cynical, with many citing Trump’s own earlier attempts to outlaw TikTok.

In Europe, TikTok’s suspension drew praise from the foreign minister of Estonia — among the countries most resilient to disinformation, according to the European Media Literacy Index.

On X, Margus Tsahkna stated, “Banning TikTok must also be taken into account in Europe.”

American tennis player Coco Gauff scrawled “RIP TikTok USA” on a courtside camera during the Australian Open in Melbourne, which was a hot topic.

“I love TikTok, it’s like an escape… hopefully it comes back”, the world number three told reporters.

Offers for TikTok

A source with knowledge of the deal told AFP that a highly-valued start-up Perplexity AI made a merger offer on Saturday with TikTok’s US subsidiary.

Although the source predicted that the proposal would cost at least $50 billion, the proposal didn’t have a price.

Frank McCourt, the former Los Angeles Dodgers owner, has also made an offer to purchase TikTok’s US activities.

Source: Channels TV