Biden Passes TikTok Ban Decision to Trump
Biden Passes TikTok Ban Decision to Trump.
The outgoing president is expected to defer the decision regarding the future of TikTok in the United States to president-elect Donald Trump, who will assume office from Joe Biden in the Oval Office following his inauguration on Monday.
According to a U.S. official, President Joe Biden will not implement a ban on the social media platform TikTok, which is scheduled to take effect the day before he vacates the White House.
The ban is set to commence on January 19, just prior to Mr. Biden's departure from the Oval Office and the inauguration of his Republican successor, Donald Trump, who emerged victorious in the November election.
A law enacted by Mr. Biden last year mandated that Congress require ByteDance, TikTok's parent company based in China, to divest its ownership of TikTok on national security grounds or face a ban in one of its largest markets.
However, the official, who requested anonymity, indicated that the Biden administration intends to leave the decision in the hands of Mr. Trump, who will be inaugurated for his second term on Monday.
Mr. Trump has previously committed to ensuring the continued availability of TikTok in the United States, although his transition team has not disclosed the methods by which they plan to achieve this goal.
During his initial presidential term, however, the 78-year-old Mr. Trump attempted to impose a ban on the platform.
Subsequently, he engaged with TikTok during his 2024 presidential campaign, asserting that he would "save TikTok," attributing its influence to his success in garnering greater support from younger voters.
Efforts to preserve TikTok have transcended party affiliations, as Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer indicated that he conversed with President Biden yesterday to support the extension of the deadline for banning TikTok, a social media platform popular among the younger demographic.
"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," Mr Schumer said on the Senate floor.
Democrats attempted to advance legislation on Wednesday that would have prolonged the deadline; however, Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas obstructed the effort.
Senator Cotton, who serves as the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, stated that TikTok has had sufficient opportunity to secure a buyer.
"TikTok is a Chinese Communist spy app that addicts our kids, harvests their data, targets them with harmful and manipulative content, and spreads communist propaganda," Mr Cotton said.
(Image: White House Photo by Joyce N Boghosian/Sipa USA/PA)
Last week, the Supreme Court conducted oral arguments regarding a legal challenge to the statute initiated by TikTok, ByteDance, and the app's users. However, the justices appeared inclined to support the law enacted by Mr. Biden.
The decision to defer the TikTok ban to Donald Trump reflects a pragmatic approach to ensure a smooth transition of power and avoid disrupting millions of American users. With bipartisan efforts supporting a delay in the ban, the focus shifts to finding a solution that balances national security concerns with the platform’s widespread popularity.
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The involvement of key political figures, such as Chuck Schumer, shows that finding an American buyer for TikTok is a priority. This approach offers hope for a resolution that protects users, preserves the platform's influence, and ensures a careful, thoughtful approach to national security issues.
