Jobaaj Stories
A new law requiring TikTok to find a non-Chinese owner or face a ban will take effect on Sunday, January 19, 2025. The deadline is approaching quickly, and there is little sign that the company will be able to complete a sale before the law goes into effect.
The law could affect 170 million Americans who use TikTok for entertainment, news, and business. If TikTok is not able to find a new owner, users might lose access to the app. TikTok has grown to be a serious competitor to American social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube.
The Supreme Court recently upheld the law, making the ban even more likely. On Friday, TikTok warned that it would shut down by Sunday night unless the Biden administration took immediate action to keep the app available.
Without intervention from the Biden administration, app stores like Google and Apple might remove TikTok from their platforms. This could mean that new users wouldn't be able to download the app. Existing users could still access it, but it may stop working properly over time as security updates would no longer be available.
There is still some uncertainty about what will happen. A Biden administration official has said it will leave the decision to the incoming president, Donald Trump, who will take office on January 20. Experts believe this means app stores may decide for themselves whether to comply with the law.
The reason for the possible ban is a national security concern. U.S. officials fear that TikTok, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, could share Americans' personal data with the Chinese government, raising security and privacy issues. Though there is no clear evidence this has happened, lawmakers worry about the possibility.
TikTok has worked to address these concerns by storing U.S. user data on servers in the U.S., but the law passed in April requires the company to sell its U.S. operations or be banned.
The law was supported by both political parties, passing through the House of Representatives and the Senate last year. Even President Biden’s administration has ordered that federal employees remove TikTok from their devices.
Although the idea of a TikTok ban began under President Trump, he has since reversed his position and now wants to find a way to save the app. He has suggested he may delay the ban to give more time for a deal to be worked out. His team is also looking at buying TikTok or allowing a sale to an American company.
A group led by billionaire Frank McCourt has made a bid to buy TikTok’s U.S. assets. However, TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, has not yet agreed to sell. The value of TikTok’s U.S. operations is estimated at around $40 billion, but it is unclear if any sale can happen in time to prevent the ban.
As the deadline nears, TikTok users across the U.S. are left in suspense about whether the app will continue to function or be shut down.
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