As the world is becoming increasingly digital, so has its controversies. Recently, there have been notable discussions around the US government’s efforts to ban the popular app TikTok. The app, owned by Chinese multinational technology giant ByteDance, is seen as a threat to the US security and has been at the center of national security concerns. As a result, the US government has been on a quest to ban the app and its associated companies.
It all started in the spring of 2020 when President Donald Trump issued executive orders seeking to ban the app. He argued that the app posed “unacceptable security risks” due to its foreign ownership and its handling of user data. The move was met with some skepticism but the Trump administration decided to push forward with the ban.
The executive order blocked US companies from engaging in any transactions with the owners of TikTok, ByteDance. This move prohibited US companies from downloading TikTok and its associated products. However, the executive order also allowed for US companies to purchase ByteDance’s US operations. This move proposed the idea that US companies could “buyout” TikTok’s US operations, thus preventing a full-blown ban from taking place.
In response to the executive order, ByteDance filed a lawsuit against the US government arguing that the executive order was unconstitutional and created “immediate and irreparable harm” to their business. ByteDance argued that due to the order, they would not be able to monetize user data. They argued that this would also lead to layoffs and that they were within their rights to continue to operate.
Though the lawsuit did not overturn the ban, it did allow ByteDance more time to find a way to remain in the US market. ByteDance is currently in talks with Microsoft Corporation to purchase their US operations. It is currently unclear how this will affect the ban, but the talks could provide a way for the company to remain in the US without violating the executive order.
At the moment, the US government’s fight to ban TikTok is still ongoing. Many believe the ban will not be overturned and even if the talks between ByteDance and Microsoft are successful, it may too late for the app to remain in the US. It is clear, however, that the US government will continue to make moves towards banning the app and its associated companies from US markets.
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