TikTok’s US Operations Temporarily Halted Ahead of Deadline
In a sudden move, the video-sharing app TikTok has suspended its operations in the United States, mere hours before a sales deadline expired. Users received a message on Saturday evening, stating that the app would be unavailable for the time being, but expressing hope for a resolution under the incoming US President, Donald Trump. The move comes as the app’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, faced a deadline to comply with a US law requiring it to divest from the platform.
The suspension is likely to be short-lived, as Trump has already hinted at a three-month extension for the app’s operations. However, this extension will only take effect after his inauguration on Monday.
Under the US law, ByteDance was given a 270-day period to divest from TikTok. After the deadline, the app is required to be removed from Apple and Google app stores, and its access to technical infrastructure will be severed. The law also imposes stiff penalties of $5,000 per user on any US service providers that continue to support the app after the deadline.
In 2020, Trump, then the 45th US President, attempted to ban TikTok through an executive order, which was later blocked by a court. Since then, Trump has been re-elected and the US Congress has passed a law prohibiting TikTok if it remains in Chinese hands. During the election campaign, Trump surprisingly changed his stance and began advocating for the app’s preservation in the US.