American social media users woke up this morning to find they no longer had access to TikTok after the much-anticipated ban went into effect.
Removed from Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store, TikTokers who have the app downloaded on their phones are being shown a message that reads: “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the US. Unfortunately, This means you can’t use TikTok right now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned.”
Formally known as the “Protecting Americans from Foreign Enemy Controlled Applications Act,” the divestment-or-sanctions legislation passed despite skepticism expressed by politicians on both sides of the divide.
on thursday, A White House official said: “Americans should not expect a sudden ban on TikTok on Sunday.” an officer says AP That the Biden administration will not enforce sanctions and will leave its fate in the hands of President-elect Donald Trump.
Trump calls TikTok a “great platform” says nbc news On assuming charge tomorrow (Monday), he will give TikTok a 90-day exemption from the ban.
Despite concerns over privacy and data, the ban is an unpopular move among content creators, who have built huge audiences on the platform and rely on it for revenue, as all their work goes up in smoke.
In the run-up to the ban, TikTokers were Ridiculed the ban by saying “Goodbye to my Chinese spy” Became a trend on the platform as people made light of the political situation.
How did we get here?
Several US agencies and public officials have said that TikTok poses a national security risk to the United States, because at any time, the Chinese government could force the company to hand over a large trove of data on American citizens.
The law that calls for divesting or banning China-based parent company ByteDance was passed last year and signed by President Joe Biden. TikTok has since filed lawsuits several times in an attempt to overturn the law, but appeals courts have upheld the ban. made a case to the Supreme Court Who The ban was upheld.
“Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well-supported national security concerns regarding TikTok’s data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary,” the court wrote in its decision.
TikTok has faced scrutiny and bans from both sides of the US political aisle. Prior to President Biden’s tenure, then-President Trump attempted to ban the app through executive order which was found to be unconstitutional. In response, Congress worked to pass the ban into law in 2024. Trump has since reversed course, now saying He vows to overturn the law Took an oath once.
TikTok says it has “invested billions of dollars to secure American data and keep its platform free from outside influence and manipulation.” He also said the ban would “devastate seven million businesses and silence 170 million Americans.”
Image Credit: Header photo is licensed via gathering photo,
