There are only a couple of days left until the deadline set by the “anti-TikTok bill” signed by Joe Biden last year is met. If ByteDance does not sell its US stake before January 19, it will not be able to continue operating in the country. That said, it seems that Joe Biden’s government will leave the implementation of the US TikTok ban in the hands of the Trump administration.
Trump will have to implement the “anti-TikTok” bill signed by the Biden administration
According to a report by ABC News, Joe Biden will not use his last hours in the US presidency to enforce the TikTok shutdown. A White House official—on condition of anonymity—told the media that this is because the deadline falls on a holiday weekend, as Trump will become president the next day—January 20.
So, Trump will be the one who must make the law official and take the appropriate measures. As part of the bill, app stores like Apple and Google’s will have to take the service down from their listings. Otherwise, they will face fines of up to $5,000 per user of the short video platform. Considering that TikTok has around 170 million active users in the US, the potential fines would be massive.
The law also contemplates scenarios of an extension of the deadline. However, applying for the extension requires compliance with certain conditions related to proving that a sale is in process. In such a case, the president may offer—once—an additional 90 days for the process to continue while the app remains available. But TikTok is not for sale right now, and the company even called the rumors of talks with Elon Musk’s X “pure fiction.”
The upcoming administration wants TikTok to continue operating in the US
Trump, on the other hand, has made it clear that he wants to keep TikTok running in the US. But the new president’s cabinet hasn’t said what plans they have yet for how to make this happen.
Mike Waltz, Trump’s national security adviser, said they are looking for ways to “keep TikTok from going dark.” He recalled that the original bill “allows for an extension as long as a viable deal is on the table.” From his words, one can infer that at least one possible strategy is to find a suitable buyer and an operation that also leaves ByteDance’s management satisfied.
More senators have tried to help ByteDance
In recent weeks, even Democratic senators such as Ed Markey and Chuck Schumer have tried to lend a hand to ByteDance. Markey filed the “Extend the TikTok Deadline Act” for a potential 270-day extension to the US ban. On the other hand, Schumer spoke directly with Joe Biden about the need to extend the law’s deadline. “It’s clear that more time is needed to find an American buyer and not disrupt the lives and livelihoods of millions of Americans, of so many influencers who have built up a good network of followers,” Schumer told the Senate.
Meanwhile, ByteDance is still waiting for the Supreme Court’s ruling on its law delay request. If favorable, the company will obtain the grace period it has been seeking. However, experts in the field see it as very unlikely that the court will rule in favor of the Chinese company.
