The TikTok Shutdown: Behind the Scenes of the US Ban

The TikTok Shutdown: Behind the Scenes of the US Ban

 

US President-elect Donald Trump expressed his support for TikTok with a “SAVE TIKTOK!” message on Truth Social after the app ceased functioning in the United States late Saturday, coinciding with the implementation of a federal ban on the platform.

 

The newly established US law banning the use of TikTok took effect on Sunday, just one day before Trump’s inauguration. This ban was the result of months of legal disputes and increased concerns regarding TikTok’s ownership by a Chinese company.

 

A message to users trying to access TikTok, which has 170 million American users, stated, “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the US. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.”

 

In an interview with NBC News on Saturday, Trump mentioned he was considering granting TikTok a 90-day extension to allow it to keep operating. If this extension is approved, Trump – who previously supported a TikTok ban – indicated it would “probably” be announced on Monday, the day he is set to be inaugurated as president.

 

TikTok CEO Shou Chew is anticipated to be present at Trump’s inauguration, with a prime seat reserved for him.

 

“We are pleased that President Trump has expressed his willingness to collaborate with us on finding a way to bring TikTok back once he assumes office,” the app stated in its message to US users. “Stay tuned for updates!”

 

On Friday, the US Supreme Court upheld a law that requires the app to be banned unless its parent company, ByteDance, sells off TikTok’s operations in the United States. This ruling represents a significant step in the ongoing efforts to limit the app, which officials argue poses a threat to national security.

 

In court, the Biden administration supported the law by expressing concerns that TikTok gathers a vast amount of data from US users, which could potentially be accessed by the Chinese government through coercive means.

 

Officials have also warned that the app’s algorithm, which decides the content users are shown, could be manipulated by Chinese authorities to subtly influence the platform in ways that are difficult to detect.

 

However, the US has not yet provided public evidence that TikTok has shared user data with Chinese authorities or modified its algorithm to favor Chinese interests.

 

ByteDance has denied any wrongdoing and has resisted pressure to sell its US operations, leaving the platform in a state of uncertainty.

 

US law mandates that Apple and Google remove TikTok from their app stores, preventing new downloads. The companies could face fines of up to $5,000 for each user who can still access the app.

 

Oracle, which manages TikTok’s servers, would also be required to enforce the ban.

 

In the meantime, US-based competitors like Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts are likely to gain from TikTok’s enforced absence.

 

Another Chinese platform, Xiaohongshu, which translates to Little Red Book, has become popular among American users, recently becoming the most downloaded app on Apple’s US store this week.

 

Several investors have come up with last-minute proposals to keep TikTok running.

 

Media reports indicate that Perplexity AI, an artificial intelligence startup supported by Jeff Bezos, has put forth a plan to merge with TikTok’s US operations to form a new entity, which could allow ByteDance to maintain some level of ownership.

 

Other proposals, including a $20 billion bid from a group led by Canadian investor Kevin O’Leary and billionaire Frank McCourt, are still being evaluated.

 

Experts caution that even if Trump were to issue an executive order to postpone the ban, it could still encounter legal hurdles.

 

“Congress designed this law to be nearly president-proof,” cautioned Adam Kovacevich, the CEO of the industry trade group Chamber of Progress.