The White House has been exploring potential solutions to ensure that TikTok remains available to its 170 million American users in light of an impending ban set to take effect on Sunday. However, White House officials have indicated that President Joe Biden may not have the authority to delay enforcement of a law he signed in April, mandating the sale of TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to American ownership by January 19. Failure to comply would result in TikTok being removed from US app stores.
The ban is slated to be enforced on the final day of Biden's term, unless the Supreme Court intervenes at the eleventh hour. A White House representative mentioned that due to the ban's timing coinciding with the transition to the next administration, the decision on implementation would fall to President-elect Donald Trump's team.
While the law permits Biden to grant an extension of up to 90 days, he must demonstrate substantial progress in negotiations for TikTok's sale, a prospect ByteDance has adamantly opposed. Some lawmakers, including Democratic Sen. Ed Markey and Republican Sen. Rand Paul, have urged Biden to consider extending the deadline, citing concerns over freedom of expression.
Despite previous reservations about TikTok's content moderation, data practices, and national security implications, both Trump and Biden have acknowledged the platform's significant influence. Trump, who previously advocated for a ban, is now contemplating a plan to provide ByteDance with additional time to finalize a deal, albeit after the ban is due to take effect.
TikTok, a widely popular platform among young adults in the US, has attracted scrutiny for its ties to China. Notably, both Trump and Biden's campaigns engaged with TikTok despite their reservations. Trump has recently engaged with TikTok's CEO and sought legal intervention to halt the ban, citing concerns about potential repercussions on free speech.
