TikTok is one of the most famous video-sharing social networking services in the world. Interestingly, the current administration wants to ban TikTok in the U.S. However, the administration suffered setback after setback in its stance that TikTok should be banned in the U.S.
Nevertheless, its pursuit of the video-sharing app continues. This week, the Justice Department tried once more to change the situation by filing an appeal of a judge’s order that blocked restrictions on TikTok in the U.S. from taking effect. As a reminder, Carl Nichols who is a U.S. District Judge issued an order that blocked the Commerce Department’s restrictions on TikTok, which would have prevented new downloads of the app from U.S. app stores.
Interestingly, Nichols was not the first judge who ruled against officials. In October, another U.S. District Judge issued an injunction against the ban. As a reminder, in that case, three content creators argued that a TikTok ban would have a negative impact on their income. It is worth noting that, the U.S. Department of Justice appealed Nichols’ decision.
TikTok and Trump administration
Interestingly, the story began this summer, when President Trump issued an order saying the security concerns about TikTok as well as WeChat, both China-based apps, constituted a national emergency.
People should take into account that, Trump invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. This act allows the president to ban transactions between U.S. and foreign entities. Importantly, he then issued an order giving the parent company ByteDance 90 days to either or spin off its TikTok’s business in the country.
As a reminder, that order was set to go into effect on November 12th and would have stopped the app’s U.S. operations. Also, on September 18th, the U.S. Commerce Department issued an order to block downloads of the app in the country. However, on the following day, the president said he approved “in concept” a bid from Oracle to become TikTok’s “trusted tech partner”.
Interestingly, then Trump administration kind of forgot about this issue, it seemed. This is not the end of the story as TikTok filed a petition as the company wanted to extend the deadline. Hopefully, the administration gave an extension until November 27th, and again until December 4th. Moreover, then the government said it would not enforce its own deadline. Last but not least, a U.S. ban on the app is unlikely to happen. Tiktok most likely will continue to operate in the country.
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