So TikTok is now formally banned within the U.S., but additionally it’s not, and in addition, it’s solely banned for individuals who wish to obtain the app, whereas those that’ve beforehand downloaded it could actually nonetheless use it. And Trump’s vowed that he’s going to put it aside, and make some huge cash for the U.S. as he does so.
Yeah, if you happen to weren’t following the back-and-forth over the weekend (which little doubt each social media supervisor was, given the impression that it may have on their technique), TikTok is now sort of unlawful for U.S. customers, however Trump’s seeking to make it okay.
Which can or could not work.
Additionally, there’s been some confusion over Trump’s precise function within the TikTok saga, and whether or not he was the one who initially sparked the push that led to the weekend’s TikTok ban, which he’s now going to save lots of customers from.
That’s solely partially right.
Right here’s a full timeline of occasions within the still-ongoing TikTok possession chaos in America.
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July 2020 – After varied governments moved to ban TikTok on official gadgets, then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says that the U.S. was contemplating banning TikTok fully. President Trump then reinforces this, noting that he’s contemplating banning TikTok within the U.S. in retaliation for the COVID pandemic.
August 2020 – President Trump points an govt order to ban TikTok as a result of information gathering and censorship carried out within the app on behalf of the CCP.
September 2020 – A part of Trump’s govt order (banning downloads of the app) is blocked by the District Court docket for the District of Columbia, with the decide noting that the President “doubtless exceeded his authority by attempting to ban TikTok” with out enough proof or due course of.
October 2020 – Trump’s govt order is blocked by a federal decide, after a bunch of TikTok influencers problem the ban. The federal court docket decide additionally notes that Trump has exceeded his authority by invoking emergency financial powers based mostly on hypothetical claims.
November 2020 – On enchantment from the White Home, a second federal decide blocks Trump’s govt order, once more citing lack of proof of wrongdoing, and lack of due course of for TikTok and mum or dad firm ByteDance.
July 2021 – President Joe Biden points an govt order that revokes the Trump Administration’s makes an attempt to ban TikTok. On the identical time, the Biden Administration acknowledges issues in regards to the “international adversary” managed app (so sure, Trump did provoke the push to ban TikTok, however that effort was initially based mostly on retaliation, not safety issues, and it failed and was shut down in 2021).
December 2022 – The Senate Intelligence Committee proposes a brand new invoice to “block and prohibit all transactions” in america by social media corporations with not less than a million month-to-month customers which might be based mostly in, or beneath the “substantial affect” of, nations which might be thought of international adversaries.
March 2024 – After confidential briefings from cybersecurity specialists on the dangers posed by TikTok, home lawmakers approve laws that can pressure ByteDance to promote TikTok into U.S. possession. The home vote on the laws is 352 to 65.
March 2024 – Presidential candidate Donald Trump says he wouldn’t ban TikTok if he had a alternative, regardless of safety issues, as banning TikTok would solely profit Meta. Trump says that Meta acted in a biased approach when it banned his account in 2021.
April 2024 – Following one other confidential briefing from safety officers, the U.S. Senate passes laws that can pressure TikTok to be offered to a U.S. firm, or face a ban within the area. The invoice is handed 79-18. Shortly after, President Biden indicators the invoice into regulation, giving Bytedance 9 months (or until January nineteenth 2025) to promote TikTok to a U.S.-based proprietor.
June 2024 – Presidential candidate Trump joins TikTok.
September 2024 – After gaining thousands and thousands of followers within the app, Trump vows to save lots of TikTok if elected, noting that he’s now a “large star” on the platform.
December 2024 – A U.S. appeals court docket rejects TikTok’s bid to disqualify the U.S. authorities’s enforced sell-off invoice.
January 2025 – The Supreme Court docket upholds the TikTok sell-off invoice.
- The Biden Administration says that it’s going to not implement the TikTok ban on January nineteenth, leaving it to Trump and his staff to enact the invoice as they select. But, even so, the authorized regulation goes into impact, leaving app suppliers with no alternative however to take away TikTok within the U.S.
- President-elect Trump says that he’ll “probably” signal a 90-day extension for TikTok as soon as he’s inaugurated, although it’s not clear that that is potential looking back, because the regulation can have already been enacted.
- TikTok informs customers that it should go offline within the U.S.
- After a quick interval of unavailability (16 hours), TikTok is restored within the U.S., after Oracle accepts Trump’s assurances that they received’t be fined beneath the sell-off invoice. Apple and Google hold TikTok out of their app shops for concern of prosecution.
- After his inauguration, Trump indicators an govt order instructing the Legal professional Common to not take any motion to implement the TikTok sell-off invoice for a interval of 75 days, in an effort to enable Trump and his staff “to find out the suitable course ahead in an orderly approach that protects nationwide safety whereas avoiding an abrupt shutdown of a communications platform utilized by thousands and thousands of Individuals.”
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In order you’ll be able to see, TikTok is technically nonetheless banned within the U.S., based mostly on the Senate-approved invoice that went into impact on January nineteenth. It’s not clear that Trump is ready to situation an govt order suspending a regulation that’s already been authorized, and that’ll be the following battleground for the TikTok U.S.
However Trump is assured that he can halt the invoice, and discover a new resolution, that ultimately sees TikTok turn into 50% U.S.-owned, and meets the necessities of the unique invoice.
Once more, to be clear, it stays fully unclear if that’s potential, or if TikTok might be unbanned by way of govt order from the President.
However for proper now not less than, TikTok is usually useful once more for Individuals.
