TikTok began restarting the app’s services in the United States after President Donald Trump said he would sign an executive order suspending the ban.
A law signed by President Joe Biden last April requires TikTok’s China-based parent company ByteDance to sell the app to non-Chinese owners by Sunday or face a sales ban. was required.
Some users reported losing access on Saturday night, and Americans who opened the app on Sunday were shown a message that said “TikTok is unavailable at this time.”
But in a post on Truth Social ahead of Inauguration Day, Trump said he would issue an executive order giving the app an extension to find a new owner.
TikTok users in the United States were unable to use the app on Sunday. Photo: Kirsty Hickey
“I am asking companies not to leave TikTok in the dark,” the president-elect wrote, adding that the order will give them time “so that we can reach an agreement that protects our national security.” Deaf added.
He also acknowledged that “the companies that prevented TikTok from going dark before my order are not responsible,” adding, “Americans have a right to watch Monday’s exciting inauguration and other events and conversations.” said.
TikTok later announced on Sunday that it had begun restoring its services, thanking the president for making it clear to service providers that “there will be no penalties for providing TikTok.”
“This is a strong position in support of the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship. We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution to keep TikTok in the United States. ” he added.
Ahead of the ban taking effect, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called TikTok’s plan to shut down the app a “stunt” and said any action to enforce the ban “will be up to the next administration.”
Trump also hinted at what a potential deal could look like on Truth Social, saying the U.S. would have a “50% ownership interest in a joint venture” with ByteDance or with a new owner. He said that it is desirable.
“Without U.S. approval, there would be no TikTok,” he said. “With our approval, it would be worth hundreds of billions of dollars, perhaps trillions.”
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Why was TikTok banned in the US?
On Saturday, the president-elect told NBC News’ Meet the Press host Kristen Welker that TikTok “most likely” will be given a 90-day ban to find a new owner. Ta.
Under the bipartisan legislation on TikTok signed by Biden, the president can grant a one-time 90-day extension under three conditions.
• There is a way to sell the app.
• “Significant progress” has been made towards completing the sale
• “relevant binding legal agreements enabling such qualifying sales to take place during such extension period” are in place;
No legal agreement to sell TikTok to a non-Chinese owner has been made public, and Trump did not say Saturday whether he was aware of recent developments toward a sale.
CNBC subsequently reported that Perplexity AI submitted a bid to the app’s parent company on Saturday to allow it to merge with TikTok US and form a new entity that also includes New Capital Partners.
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UK minister says there are ‘no plans’ to ban TikTok
What is the Chinese social media app “RedNote”?
During his first term in the White House, Trump tried to ban TikTok and the Chinese-owned messaging app WeChat, but was blocked by the courts. It was later rescinded by Biden.
He briefly met last year with the app’s chief executive, Shou Zi Chu, who will be attending Monday’s inauguration ceremony.
A Trump transition official told NBC that he will sit down with technology executives Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos.
