Popular app TikTok may face a ban on Jan. 19 due to a federal law requiring it to sever ties with its China-based parent company, ByteDance. Despite interest from potential buyers, ByteDance has stated it has no intention to sell. Experts believe the Chinese government is unlikely to approve a sale including TikTok’s algorithm. The app is valued at over $100 billion, potentially reaching $200 billion with the algorithm. Concerns have been raised about the algorithm being manipulated by Chinese authorities. Various parties, including businessman Frank McCourt and former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, have expressed interest in purchasing TikTok. The Supreme Court is expected to issue a decision soon regarding the ban, and President-elect Donald Trump has requested a delay to seek a resolution.
President Trump vowed to “save TikTok,” but spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt stated in a November press release that he intends to “deliver” on his promise. Following Trump’s inauguration, the responsibility of enforcing the law and penalizing any potential violators would rest on his Justice Department. During a Senate hearing on Wednesday, Pam Bondi, Trump’s nominee for Attorney General, evaded a question regarding whether she would uphold a TikTok ban.
