TikTok's future at stake: U.S. pushes ByteDance sell-off
TikTok might vanish from the USA if its Chinese owner does not sell the app. The government cites security threats, while many internet users disagree with the decision. Will Americans bid farewell to the app?
TikTok, one of the world’s most downloaded apps, may soon be removed from the American market. The United States Supreme Court is currently dealing with an appeal regarding legislation that demands the app's Chinese owner, the ByteDance company, to sell TikTok. President Biden's administration is concerned about national security. The issue generates significant controversy among internet users due to potential infringements on free speech.
Will TikTok vanish from the USA?
In April 2024, President Joe Biden signed a law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok by 19 January 2025. The US government is worried that Chinese authorities might force access to user data or manipulate the content published on the app. The app's management argues that there is no proof of such activities, and that measures like storing data on servers in the US have been implemented to ensure safety.
Both TikTok and numerous users argue that the law violates rights guaranteed by the Constitution, including free speech. The app's lawyers stress that shutting down the platform will affect millions of people who use it as a tool for work, entertainment, or communication. Furthermore, for many creators, the app has become a primary source of income, and its removal would have significant social and economic repercussions.
Many internet users criticise the entire situation. Online, they write: "Doesn't the government have more pressing concerns?", "I still don't comprehend why they're doing this", "'land of the free' - they said", "TikTok is literally my go-to photo app. I can't live without it", "the court is worried about the wrong things; banning guns isn't that hard", "ban TikTok but not guns, wow".
Biden and Trump in defence of the nation
Biden's administration defends the law, emphasising that possible control of TikTok by the Chinese government poses a threat to the safety of the United States. Officials highlight that even without evidence of abuses, the risk is significant enough to warrant decisive action. The US authorities are ready to enforce a ban on the app should ByteDance fail to meet the requirements.
Donald Trump, who is set to become the US president in January 2025, urges the Supreme Court to delay the law's enforcement. He asserts that his administration can find a compromise solution to the issue. Additionally, he believes that his negotiation skills and electoral mandate will facilitate resolving this matter without the necessity of removing TikTok from the American market.
