TikTok Ban In US: US President-elect Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he is likely to grant TikTok a 90-day extension to delay a potential ban after he takes office on Monday. The reprieve would provide temporary relief for the Chinese-owned platform, which has 170 million users in the United States.
In an interview with NBC, Trump said, “The 90-day extension is something that will most likely be done because it’s appropriate.” He added that he would probably make an official announcement on Monday.
TikTok, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, has become a significant part of American culture. It faces a shutdown in the US unless it separates from its Chinese parent company by Sunday. The platform has expressed concerns over its future, urging President Joe Biden's administration to ensure that companies like Apple and Google would not face legal action for hosting the app once the ban takes effect.
The situation stems from a national security law passed last year, which requires TikTok to sever ties with ByteDance or shut down its US operations due to concerns about its data handling practices. On Friday, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the law, leaving the app on the brink of a shutdown.
The White House dismissed TikTok’s comments about the potential ban as a publicity stunt. Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that it is now up to the incoming Trump administration to take action, suggesting a shutdown is likely on Sunday. “We see no reason for TikTok or other companies to take action in the next few days before the Trump administration takes office,” she said.
(With Inputs From Reuters)