Sun, 19 Jan 2025

TikTok restores service in US after Trump pledge

TikTok is resuming services to its 170 million users in US after President-elect Donald Trump said he would give the app a reprieve.
TikTok resumed services in the US after President-elect Donald Trump announced he would issue an executive order to delay a law banning the app on national security grounds. The Chinese-owned platform had stopped working for American users on Saturday, but began functioning again after Trump's statement. A popup message thanked him by name and said TikTok would work with him to find a "long-term solution" that keeps the app in the US. Trump had previously supported a ban of the platform, but has since expressed a "warm spot" for it. He promised on Sunday to issue an executive order extending the period before the law's prohibitions take effect, allowing for more time to negotiate a deal to protect national security. The move is seen as an about-face by Trump, who had backed a TikTok ban last year but has recently professed fondness for the app. The law in question was passed with bipartisan support and upheld by the Supreme Court on Friday. TikTok's parent company, Bytedance, had previously ignored a requirement to sell its US operations to avoid a ban. Trump's administration is expected not to enforce the law if he issues an executive order, but it's unclear what authority he has to delay implementation of a law already in effect. The move exposes a rift between Trump and members of his own party on national security issues. Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Tom Cotton broke with Trump by saying that any company helping TikTok stay online would be breaking the law. Several states have also sued the platform, opening up the possibility for local jurisdictions to ban it even if it remains available nationally. The question of whether third-party platforms like Apple and Google can support TikTok in the US remains murky, but Trump promised to shield companies from liability if they help keep the app online.
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