It is predicted that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will try to stop banning TikTok and forcing it to sell. This comes after Trump pledged not to ban TikTok during the election, and if he realizes it, TikTok will be able to continue its service in the U.S.
According to the Washington Post and other foreign media on the 12th (local time), Trump’s aides said there is a possibility that Trump will take measures to prevent TikTok from being banned in the U.S. after taking office. The U.S. Congress passed the TikTok forced sale law in April, citing concerns about the Chinese government’s data collection. According to the law, TikTok must find a new owner to break up with its Chinese headquarters by January 19 next year, or services in the U.S. could be suspended.
During the presidential election, Trump pledged to block the ban on TikTok targeting Generation Z, and his campaign also emphasized the message, “Vote for Trump to save TikTok in the United States.” This is a change of stance, in contrast to his insistence on banning TikTok during his first term as president.
However, lifting the TikTok ban altogether is unlikely to be easy due to legal barriers. The current law includes a rule that imposes a fine for big tech companies such as Apple and Google to offer TikTok on their app stores. The president can extend the deadline for the sale by 90 days, but additional measures may be needed, such as abolishing the law or requiring the Justice Department to refrain from enforcing it.
TikTok is a popular platform among Gen Z in the United States, and according to market research firm AppFigure, it ranked second among the most downloaded apps by U.S. users aged 18 to 24 in October this year.
SOPHIA KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
