Donald Trump takes office as president on Monday, the day after the popular app may be shut down in American app stores.
But it seems increasingly unlikely that the apps will stop working. Trump's national security adviser Mike Waltz says that the incoming government will take measures "to prevent Tiktok from shutting down".
Legislation allows for an extension (of the postponement) as long as a feasible agreement is possible. In practice, it means that it gives time to President Trump to let Tiktok continue (operate in the USA), says Waltz to Fox News.
A signal that Trump and Tiktok want to establish closer ties is that the disputed Chinese app's highest executive, Shou Chew, will attend in Washington DC when Trump is sworn in as president.
Tech Billionaires
Shou Chew will then also be accompanied by tech billionaires Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos, who will also be present.
It falls on Trump's Justice Minister (likely Pam Bondi) to enforce the court's decision. She can choose not to do so, but that would also mean that Bondi and Trump go against Congress, which with a large majority supports a ban.
The background to the law passed last year is that Tiktok is accused of making it possible for China to spy on the 170 million American users and gather information about them.
Good for the Campaign
For Trump, a ban on the app is twofold.
It has been a very good platform for him and his campaign to get out their message. But at the same time, he wants to protect users' data, says Waltz.
Earlier on Thursday, sources told NBC that even President Joe Biden's administration is working to find solutions that would allow Tiktok to remain available in the US even if the ban on the app is upheld by the court.
Facts: The Shutdown of Tiktok
TT
The background to the law passed last year is that Tiktok is accused of making it possible for China to spy on 170 million American users and gather information about them.
When enforcing a ban on the Chinese app Tiktok, the American government can ask Apple and Google to remove Tiktok from their app stores, which would prevent new downloads. Then the app would remain with existing American users – unless Tiktok blocks their access.
Tiktok's lawyer Noel Francisco has stated that the app will "go dark" on Sunday if the judiciary fails to block the ban. Even a media report claims that the company plans a full shutdown of the service in the USA.
