TikTok seems to be on the verge of being banned in the States.
The decision has come from US lawmakers and officials.
They feel that TikTok’s parent company ByteDance’s ties to China, which poses significant national security risks.
TikTok is a popular short-form video app. It was pretty popular in India, especially during the COVID lockdown days, but it was banned in the country. Now, it seems that the US is also following a similar suit and the app is on the verge of being banned in the States. The decision has come from US lawmakers and officials who feel that TikTok’s parent company ByteDance’s ties to the Chinese government pose significant national security risks. The only way out of this is if ByteDance divests its ownership by January 19.
According to the US Department of Justice, TikTok’s access to data from its 170 million American users could enable Beijing to exploit sensitive information. Similar concerns were raised in India before TikTok was banned in 2020 over similar security fears.
Previously, in April 2024, President Joe Biden signed a law that asked ByteDance to find a US-approved buyer for TikTok. If the sale does not occur, the app will be shut down nationwide. To this, ByteDance and TikTok responded by challenging the law in court, calling it unconstitutional and warning of its impact on free speech.
However, the recent election of Donald Trump, who takes office a day after the ban is set to begin, has a different opinion. Previously Trump had attempted to ban TikTok during his first term in 2020, but has now expressed opposition to the ban. He has urged the Supreme Court to delay the implementation of the law while he seeks a “political resolution.”
The Supreme Court has heard arguments from TikTok and ByteDance, and a decision in the same regard is expected in the coming days. If the ban proceeds, app stores, and online marketplaces will be required to stop distributing TikTok in the US. Current users will lose access to updates.
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Mustafa Khan
Mustafa is new on the block and is a tech geek who is currently working with Digit as a News Writer. He tests the new gadgets that come on board and writes for the news desk. He has found his way with words and you can count on him when in need of tech advice. No judgement. He is based out of Delhi, he’s your person for good photos, good food recommendations, and to know about anything GenZ. View Full Profile
