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 will possibly 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, should you weren’t following the back-and-forth over the weekend (which little question each social media supervisor was, given the affect that it might have on their technique), TikTok is now sort of unlawful for U.S. customers, however Trump’s trying 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 numerous governments moved to ban TikTok on official units, then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says that the U.S. was contemplating banning TikTok totally. 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 consequence of knowledge gathering and censorship performed 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 Courtroom for the District of Columbia, with the decide noting that the President “seemingly 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 gaggle of TikTok influencers problem the ban. The federal courtroom decide additionally notes that Trump has exceeded his authority by invoking emergency financial powers based mostly on hypothetical claims.
November 2020 – On attraction 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 dad or mum 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 considerations concerning the “overseas adversary” managed app (so sure, Trump did provoke the push to ban TikTok, however that effort was initially based mostly on retaliation, not safety considerations, 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 firms with a minimum of a million month-to-month customers which can be based mostly in, or underneath the “substantial affect” of, international locations which can be thought of overseas adversaries.
March 2024 – After confidential briefings from cybersecurity consultants on the dangers posed by TikTok, home lawmakers approve laws that may drive 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 selection, regardless of safety considerations, as banning TikTok would solely profit Meta. Trump says that Meta acted in a biased method when it banned his account in 2021.
April 2024 – Following one other confidential briefing from safety officers, the U.S. Senate passes laws that may drive TikTok to be bought 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 tens of millions 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 courtroom rejects TikTok’s bid to disqualify the U.S. authorities’s enforced sell-off invoice.
January 2025 – The Supreme Courtroom upholds the TikTok sell-off invoice.
January 2025 – The Biden Administration says that it won’t implement the TikTok ban on January nineteenth, leaving it to Trump and his crew to enact the invoice as they select. But, even so, the authorised regulation goes into impact, leaving app suppliers with no selection however to take away TikTok within the U.S.
January 2025 – President-elect Trump says that he’ll “most certainly” signal a 90-day extension of the authorised invoice as soon as he’s inaugurated, although it’s not clear that that is attainable on reflection, because the regulation can have already been enacted.
January 2025 – After a quick interval of unavailability, TikTok is restored within the U.S., after Oracle accepts Trump’s assurances that they gained’t be fined underneath the sell-off invoice. Apple and Google maintain TikTok out of their app shops for worry of prosecution.
January 2025 – After his inauguration, Trump indicators an govt order instructing the Lawyer Normal to not take any motion to implement the TikTok sell-off invoice for a interval of 75 days, in an effort to permit Trump and his crew “to find out the suitable course ahead in an orderly method that protects nationwide safety whereas avoiding an abrupt shutdown of a communications platform utilized by tens of millions of People.”
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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 difficulty an govt order suspending a regulation that’s already been authorised, 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 answer, that ultimately sees TikTok develop into 50% U.S. owned, and meets the necessities of the unique invoice.
Once more, to be clear, it stays totally unclear if that’s attainable, or if TikTok could be unbanned through govt order from the President.
However for proper now a minimum of, TikTok is generally purposeful once more for People.
