TikTok: What Happens to Your Videos If a Ban is Imposed? President-elect Donald Trump, who initially called for a ban in 2020 citing national security concerns, now believes there is a way to keep TikTok operational in the U.S. The ban mandates ByteDance to either find a buyer or appoint an operator for TikTok’s U.S. operations. Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, mentioned that a decision regarding TikTok will be made soon after a review of the situation. Meanwhile, TikTok’s CEO stated in a video that the platform is committed to thriving as a hub for creativity and inspiration.
The U.S. government’s desire to ban TikTok stems from worries that the Chinese-owned platform could compromise national security by collecting data on U.S. citizens. Despite TikTok’s assurance that it has never shared U.S. user data with the Chinese government, concerns persist. Efforts to ban TikTok during Trump’s presidency were hindered by legal challenges, but the issue resurfaced under the Biden administration. The Senate and House passed a bill to ban TikTok as a security threat, which was then signed into law by President Biden.
While there is uncertainty surrounding the fate of TikTok, recent developments suggest that a ban may not be imminent. Trump could potentially reverse his stance on TikTok through an executive order, citing its potential benefits for national security.
The app has emerged as a preferred option over other Chinese-owned alternatives like RedNote, which is known to be subject to Communist Party censorship, according to Anupam Chander, a professor at Georgetown University’s Georgetown Law School. Wedbush Securities analyst Daniel Ives indicated in a recent report that he anticipates the Trump administration may postpone the ban or request the Justice Department to refrain from enforcing the law, potentially allowing Apple and Google to retain TikTok within their app stores. This move would also permit internet providers and hosting companies to retain any TikTok assets and data on their systems for the time being, as stated by Ives. “Behind the scenes, we believe the Trump Administration is working aggressively to set the stage for a deal and structure for TikTok going forward,” Ives remarked.
Elon Musk could play a crucial role in ensuring the continued operation of TikTok in the U.S. by either acquiring the app’s U.S. operations or overseeing the agreement, as highlighted by Ives in a conversation with USA TODAY. “Musk has a front-row seat to the Trump White House and (is the) only person (who) would be approved by Beijing for this purchase,” Ives noted.
Contributors to this article include Riley Beggin, Greta Cross, Maureen Groppe, Jessica Guynn, Bailey Schulz, and Mary Walrath-Holdridge of USA TODAY; Reuters.
Follow Mike Snider on Threads, Bluesky, and X: mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider. Stay updated with our trending newsletter to receive the latest news of the day. This article was originally featured on USA TODAY, offering insights into the potential timeline and developments surrounding the TikTok ban implementation.
