In April, President Joe Biden signed an invoice that would ban the popular video-sharing app, unless deposited through Bytedance. But with a few days, divestment is unlikely, so here’s what you want to know.
Very likely.
When Biden signed the invoice in April, bytedance had months to sell the application to a company that is not controlled through a “foreign opponent. “But instead of selling, Tiktok went ahead and took its case to the U. S. Supreme Court, which nonetheless made the decision to ban the application.
When the prohibition announced for the first time, the CEO of Tiktok, Shou Zi Chew, called the “ironic because freedom of expression in Tiktok reflects the same US values that make a lighthouse in the United States of Liberty. Tiktok provides Americans each and every one.
Well see, that’s where it gets a bit complicated.
The main argument against the app is that it is seen as a security risk due to the fact the app is owned by a supposed foreign adversary to the United States — China — and the US Government is worried about users’ data and information being collected in the country.
Tom Barrett, a generation researcher who is directed at the United States Studies Center, told ABC News: “Tiktok’s skill] to influence and manipulate his additional layer that makes him know with respect to Washington. ”
And, of course, the theorists of the conspiracy chronically have also given their two cents on the subject.
In an article on X (formerly Twitter), user Chamath Palihapitiya said that Tiktok is “spyware for a foreign actor,” with countless internet users agreeing with the Palihapitiya takeover.
“I don’t perceive the fight to stay in line in the United States. It is literally a Chinese spy software that even the Chinese will not allow their children to use. It is a weapon that harms our young people. Always looking to make the case for keeping it in line, other than some wealthy GOP [Republican] donors will take a big hit,” one user wrote in response.
Tiktok’s prohibition could have passed, but an unlikely hero could be to “save” the beloved application: Donald Trump.
While the global total is for Trump to retreat to the White House on January 20, the president -elect suggested that the Supreme Court maintain the implementation of the prohibition at the end of December.
This displays a stark contrast to how he felt about the app back in 2020.
He initially pushed for TikTok to be banned during his first term, stating that it “threatens to allow the Chinese Communist Party access to Americans’ personal and proprietary information”, in an executive order.
It seems like Trump’s harsh feelings towards TikTok have mellowed out slightly (maybe he’s willing to forget that one time TikTok users trolled him), as he since vowed to “save” the app and will “put measures in place to keep TikTok from going dark”, according to Florida Congressman Mike Waltz, Trump’s incoming National Security Advisor.
Tiktok gave the impression in the United States Supreme Court on Friday, January 10.
The hearing was limited, meaning that Tiktok only provided arguments founded on the scope of one question: Did the ban violate the First Amendment?
You can look at the court’s transmission below.
According to US news outlet NBC News, TikTok is reportedly considering a full-on shutdown of its US site if the ban moves ahead.
However, Tiktok insider told the publication that he has not made an official final resolution on what he would do if Supreme Court regulations opposed him and that discussions surrounding the big move have been ongoing since Wednesday.
One of the options that reportedly arose from these discussions was that a user could still access TikTok content, but could no longer receive updates such as new videos and bug fixes.
“[Tiktok] will not have to have new downloads at all points of sale of applications retail in the United States, and prevent it from running over time because it may not obtain errors and update corrections,” the publication said.
Despite these discussions, Noel Francisco, an attorney for the app, said that he understood that TikTok would “go dark” on January 19 if the ban goes ahead.
“Essentially, the platform shuts down,” Francisco told the Supreme Court last Friday.
Whispers of a total shutdown are circulating despite many potential buyers, including former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick and former LA Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, expressing their interest in the app.
Recently, Jimmy Donaldson (famous as Mr. Beast) said he had an assembly “with a group of billionaires” related to the long execution of the beloved video application.
“Tiktok, we business,” he said.
“This is my lawyer here. We have an offer in a position for you. We need to buy the platform. America deserves Tiktok. Give me a seat at the table, let me save this platform, Tiktok. “
If the prohibition is confirmed, new users will not be downloaded Tiktok from the applications retail points in the United States, and existing users will not be updated the application.
Both Apple and Google — which operate the two major app stores — have been told they must be ready to remove TikTok from their stores from January 19.
For the 170 million American users, they can use the application in the predictable future, but they will not obtain any software update. This means that over time, the application will become unusable.
Hilariously, American TikTokers have moved on over to Chinese-owned app Xiaohongshu (AKA RedNote). Alongside RedNote, Lemon8 — owned by ByteDance — has risen to the top of the US Apple App Store.
As Tiktokers (dubbed “Tiktok Refugees”) migrate to the new app, American and Chinese netizens have engaged in hilarious and wholesome banter.
If bytedancing is banned in the United States, not only is Tiktok Capcut’s popular video editing app (which also belongs to the Chinese internet company) also be an axe.
According to the Washington Post, the bill that would see TikTok banned would also mean the same for CapCut.
If CapCut gets banned, this could vastly change the short-form video industry across all platforms and force creators onto more complex, and often more expensive editing programs like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro.
When the prohibition discussed for the first time at the beginning of last year, the coalition requested that Australia stay with the step and prohibition of the prohibition, invoking Chinese interference disorders, however, the Government has not taken a serious position.
What we know with certainty is that Australians will awaken on January 19 with a sudden prohibition of Tiktok (unlike our friends in the United States).