Trump saving TikTok represents a reversal in stance from his first time period in workplace. In 2020, he aimed to ban the short-video app over issues the corporate was sharing Individuals’ private information with the Chinese language authorities. Extra not too long ago, Trump has stated he has “a heat spot in my coronary heart for TikTok,” crediting the app with serving to him win over younger voters within the 2024 election.
The US has by no means banned a serious social media platform. The regulation handed overwhelmingly by Congress offers the incoming Trump administration sweeping authority to ban or search the sale of different Chinese language-owned apps.
Different apps owned by ByteDance, together with video enhancing app CapCut and way of life social app Lemon8, have been additionally offline and unavailable in US app shops as of late Saturday.
Apple and Google didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
It was not clear if any US customers might nonetheless entry the app, nevertheless it was now not working for a lot of customers, and folks in search of to entry it by way of an internet software have been met with the identical message that TikTok was now not working.
MOVE TO ALTERNATIVES
Below the regulation handed final yr and upheld on Friday by a unanimous US Supreme Court docket, the platform had till Sunday to chop ties with its China-based guardian or shut down its US operation to resolve issues it poses a menace to nationwide safety.
The Chinese language Embassy in Washington on Friday accused the US of utilizing unfair state energy to suppress TikTok. “China will take all mandatory measures to resolutely safeguard its reputable rights and pursuits,” a spokesperson stated.
“The present scenario the place TikTok is allowed to function in America, however X shouldn’t be allowed to function in China is unbalanced. One thing wants to vary,” Elon Musk stated in a tweet on Sunday, including that he’s towards the ban as a result of it goes towards freedom of speech.
