Following a Supreme Court ruling upholding a bipartisan law mandating ByteDance divest from TikTok or face a U.S. ban, President-elect Trump announced plans for an executive order delaying the ban’s implementation. This action, seen by some as a political win for Trump facilitated by Democrats, comes after President Biden signed the legislation into law despite previous efforts to overturn a similar executive order from Trump’s presidency. The delay allows for negotiations to preserve TikTok’s U.S. operations, potentially involving a joint venture with U.S. ownership. Critics, however, decry the law’s passage as prioritizing symbolic action over comprehensive data privacy legislation and as enabling Trump to position himself as a savior of the platform.
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A new bipartisan bill banning TikTok in the U.S. unless sold to a U.S. owner went into effect, leading to the app’s immediate suspension and removal from app stores. President-elect Trump initially suggested a 90-day extension, a proposition opposed by several senators who emphasized the law’s strict requirements for any extension. While Trump later clarified his desire to bring TikTok back online, Representative Mike Johnson affirmed the administration’s intention to enforce the law, requiring a sale to a U.S. entity to ensure national security. This legal requirement necessitates a divestiture of ByteDance’s ownership to comply with the ban.
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The Supreme Court unanimously upheld a law banning TikTok in the U.S. due to national security concerns regarding its ties to China, rejecting TikTok’s challenge. The law mandated ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, divest from TikTok or face a U.S. ban. Following a temporary shutdown, President-elect Trump intervened, promising an executive order to allow TikTok’s continued operation in the U.S., pending a long-term solution involving potential U.S. ownership. This action led to TikTok restoring service. However, the law remains in effect, leaving TikTok’s future in the U.S. uncertain despite the temporary reprieve.
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Following a Supreme Court ruling upholding President Biden’s order, ByteDance’s US operations, including TikTok, were shut down. This action also impacted several other ByteDance-affiliated apps, namely Marvel Snap and CapCut, which are now unavailable to US users. Mobile Legends Bang Bang, a Nuverse (ByteDance subsidiary) game, was also affected. While some affected companies, like Second Dinner (Marvel Snap’s developer), are working to restore service, the immediate future of these apps in the US remains uncertain.
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A U.S. law mandating the sale of TikTok to a non-Chinese owner, upheld by the Supreme Court, resulted in the app’s unavailability on Saturday. The app’s message attributed the shutdown to the enacted ban, while also expressing hope for a solution. ByteDance’s other apps also faced similar disruptions. President-elect Trump hinted at a potential 90-day extension, creating uncertainty regarding TikTok’s long-term future in the U.S. This situation follows considerable debate regarding national security concerns and free speech implications.
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Perplexity AI submitted a bid to ByteDance, proposing a merger that would combine Perplexity, TikTok U.S., and new investors into a single entity. This structure would allow most ByteDance investors to retain equity while integrating TikTok’s video capabilities into Perplexity’s AI search platform. The proposed merger, valued at well over $50 billion, is a strategic move given the rising competition in AI-assisted search and the potential sale of TikTok. President-elect Trump’s 90-day extension offers a window for deal completion, though the process is expected to take several months.
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Facing a Sunday deadline imposed by a Supreme Court ruling upholding a US ban, TikTok announced it will be forced to cease US operations unless the government intervenes. The app cites a lack of assurances from the White House and Department of Justice regarding penalties for continued operation after the deadline. This shutdown would result from the failure to secure necessary clarity and protection from the looming ban on TikTok, due to ByteDance’s ownership. Without governmental intervention, TikTok will be unavailable to US users beginning January 19th.
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Following a failed attempt to delay a nationwide ban, TikTok must be sold by its Chinese owner, ByteDance, by January 19th to remain operational in the US. A US court rejected TikTok’s emergency motion, leaving its only recourse as an appeal to the Supreme Court. The ban, driven by national security concerns regarding data collection, is supported by the Justice Department, while TikTok disputes these claims. Failure to secure a Supreme Court reversal will leave TikTok’s future dependent upon President Biden’s potential extension and then President-elect Trump’s ultimate decision.
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As I scrolled through my feed and stumbled upon the news that TikTok will not be sold, ByteDance telling the US to essentially take a hike, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions. On one hand, there’s a sense of relief that the app I’ve grown accustomed to using won’t be disappearing from my life anytime soon. However, on the other hand, there’s a looming sense of uncertainty about what this decision means for the future of TikTok in the US.
The saga of TikTok’s potential sale has been ongoing for quite some time now, with the US government attempting to force ByteDance to divest its popular social media platform.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker