WHY TIKTOK BAN IN USA OR USA BANNING TIKTOK
TikTok Ban Live Updates: App Shuts Down In USA—But Trump Could Restore It
Late Saturday night, TikTok unexpectedly shut down for U.S. users, just moments before a nationwide ban was set to begin. However, President-elect Donald Trump had hinted earlier in the day that he would likely permit TikTok to return after he assumes office on Monday, suggesting he might extend the deadline for Byte Dance, the Chinese company that owns the app, to finalize its sale. (Read more about TikTok’s sudden shutdown here.)
WHY TIKTOK BAN IN USA OR USA BANNING TIKTOK
January 18, 2025: TikTok officially shut down for U.S. users shortly before 11 p.m. EST, displaying a message that read, “You can’t use TikTok for now” due to a law banning the app set to go into effect on Sunday. Despite the ban, the platform noted that President Trump had indicated he would work toward reinstating TikTok after he takes office.
January 18, 2025: Trump suggested that he would “likely” extend the deadline for the TikTok ban, with an official announcement expected on Monday. However, he stopped short of confirming any concrete action.
January 17, 2025: TikTok warned it would “go dark” on January 19 unless the Biden administration ensured that companies like Apple and Google would not face penalties for continuing to offer the app. The Biden administration had previously expressed that TikTok should remain available under American ownership.
January 17, 2025: The Supreme Court upheld a law that could lead to TikTok’s ban unless it is sold to a U.S.-based company, ruling that national security concerns outweighed the platform’s First Amendment rights.
January 17, 2025: Trump responded to the Supreme Court’s decision, stating that the outcome was expected and that he would take time to review the situation before making a final decision on TikTok’s future.
January 16, 2025: Multiple news outlets reported that the Biden administration did not plan to intervene in the law mandating TikTok’s potential sale or ban. The administration, however, was exploring alternatives to avoid the app’s shutdown.
January 16, 2025: Senator Chuck Schumer emphasized the need for more time to find a U.S. buyer for TikTok, urging lawmakers to find a solution that both protects Americans’ data privacy and allows the app to stay active in the U.S.
January 15, 2025: President-elect Trump was reportedly considering issuing an executive order to delay the enforcement of TikTok’s ban for two to three months, according to The Washington Post.
January 15, 2025: TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, was expected to attend Trump’s inauguration, as reported by The New York Times.
January 14, 2025: Analysts estimated that Byte Dance could expect between $40 billion and $50 billion for TikTok’s U.S. operations, though the exact value could vary based on whether the sale includes the app’s proprietary algorithm.
January 13, 2025: Bloomberg reported that Chinese officials were considering selling TikTok’s U.S. operations to Elon Musk if the Supreme Court did not block the ban. However, the report noted that discussions were still in early stages.
January 10, 2025: The Supreme Court heard arguments concerning a law that could force TikTok’s sale or ban, with the justices appearing inclined to uphold the legislation, according to The New York Times.
January 9, 2025: Frank McCourt’s Project Liberty proposed purchasing TikTok’s U.S. operations, excluding its algorithm, for around $20 billion. It was unclear whether Byte Dance was considering this offer.
January 6, 2025: Investor Kevin O’Leary, part of The People’s Bid for TikTok, stated that he intended to buy the app and would seek Trump’s help to facilitate the acquisition.
January 3, 2025: The Justice Department urged the Supreme Court to enforce the law requiring TikTok’s sale or ban, arguing that national security concerns outweighed the platform’s First Amendment rights.
December 27, 2024: Trump opposed the TikTok ban in a court filing, suggesting that a “political resolution” could be reached after his inauguration to keep the app in the U.S.
December 18, 2024: The Supreme Court announced it would review TikTok’s challenge against the federal law, scheduling oral arguments just days before the law’s enforcement date.
December 16, 2024: TikTok requested an injunction from the Supreme Court to block the ban, arguing that the app was vital for American communication and that an injunction would allow for a more orderly review of the case.
December 16, 2024: TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew met with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate to discuss the issue, hoping to gain time for a potential resolution before the law took effect.
December 6, 2024: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit upheld the law requiring TikTok’s potential ban or sale, citing national security concerns over the app’s Chinese ownership.
May 14, 2024: A group of TikTok users sued the federal government, accusing it of violating their First Amendment rights and calling the ban “unconstitutionally overbroad.”
May 7, 2024: TikTok filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the ban, asserting that the government was infringing on the First Amendment rights of both the platform and its American users.
April 24, 2024: President Joe Biden signed a bill requiring TikTok to be sold or banned, prompting a statement from the app claiming that it had already made significant investments to protect U.S. user data.
April 23, 2024: The Senate passed the bill overwhelmingly with a vote of 80-19, citing concerns over national security, espionage, and the protection of vulnerable Americans.
April 20, 2024: The House passed the bill with a vote of 360-58, with lawmakers expressing concerns about the risks posed by foreign adversaries gaining access to American data through TikTok.
