Publisher's Synopsis
The popular video-sharing app TikTok came under fire from the US government in 2020, owing to concerns about its Chinese ownership and the potential threat it posed to national security. As a result, the Trump administration issued an executive order effectively banning TikTok in the US unless it was sold to a US-based company.
ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, initially challenged the ban in court, claiming that it was not based on credible evidence and would violate the company's right to due process. However, a federal judge granted an injunction against the ban in September 2020, citing concerns about the government's authority to prohibit internet activity. A higher court later overturned the injunction in December 2020, but the ban was never fully implemented due to ongoing legal challenges and negotiations. Meanwhile, TikTok continued to operate in the United States, albeit with some restrictions and increased government scrutiny. TikTok tentatively agreed to sell its US operations to Oracle and Walmart in November 2020, which was seen as a potential solution to the ban. However, when the Biden administration took office in January 2021, this agreement was put on hold, and the future of TikTok in the United States remains uncertain. TikTok is still available in the United States as of early 2023 and is one of the most popular social media platforms in the country. However, the battle over its ownership and potential national security risks remains a contentious and divisive issue.
