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US TikTok ban: When could the app be banned and will Trump save it? | US TikTok ban: When could the app be banned and will Trump save it? |
(7 days later) | |
Social media company TikTok faces a ban in the US unless it is sold by its Chinese parent company ByteDance by 19 January. | Social media company TikTok faces a ban in the US unless it is sold by its Chinese parent company ByteDance by 19 January. |
However, the country's highest judicial authority, the Supreme Court, agreed to hear a case on 10 January brought by TikTok, ByteDance and content creators, arguing the action being taken is unconstitutional. | |
President-elect Donald Trump - who takes office the day after the ban is to come into force - has asked the Supreme Court to delay it so he can seek a "political" solution. | |
Who wants to ban TikTok in the US and why? | Who wants to ban TikTok in the US and why? |
US officials and lawmakers have accused ByteDance of being linked to the Chinese government. | |
Many have cited national security concerns over the app, claiming that it could be forced by Beijing to hand over data about its 170 million US users. | Many have cited national security concerns over the app, claiming that it could be forced by Beijing to hand over data about its 170 million US users. |
The US Justice Department has said that because of its Chinese parent company, and access to data on American users, TikTok poses "a national-security threat of immense depth and scale". | The US Justice Department has said that because of its Chinese parent company, and access to data on American users, TikTok poses "a national-security threat of immense depth and scale". |
In April 2024, US Congress passed a bill, which President Joe Biden signed into law, giving ByteDance nine months to find a US-approved buyer or see TikTok shut down across the US. | In April 2024, US Congress passed a bill, which President Joe Biden signed into law, giving ByteDance nine months to find a US-approved buyer or see TikTok shut down across the US. |
TikTok and ByteDance deny being linked to the Chinese government, or that any data would be handed over. They have also previously ruled out a sale. | TikTok and ByteDance deny being linked to the Chinese government, or that any data would be handed over. They have also previously ruled out a sale. |
The firms have filed multiple legal challenges against the law, saying it is "unconstitutional" and would have a "staggering" impact on free speech by censoring its US users. | The firms have filed multiple legal challenges against the law, saying it is "unconstitutional" and would have a "staggering" impact on free speech by censoring its US users. |
They have said that even a temporary ban in early 2025 would have "devastating effects" on their operations and users. | They have said that even a temporary ban in early 2025 would have "devastating effects" on their operations and users. |
Is TikTok really a danger to the West? | Is TikTok really a danger to the West? |
What could a TikTok ban mean for creators? | What could a TikTok ban mean for creators? |
Could Donald Trump stop TikTok's ban? | Could Donald Trump stop TikTok's ban? |
Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 election may offer TikTok a lifeline. | Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 election may offer TikTok a lifeline. |
He tried to ban the app while he was in the White House in 2020, but has now called on the US Supreme Court to delay the ban while he works on a "political resolution". | He tried to ban the app while he was in the White House in 2020, but has now called on the US Supreme Court to delay the ban while he works on a "political resolution". |
Trump will be sworn in as the 47th US president on 20 January 2025, the day after TikTok's deadline to be sold or banned. | Trump will be sworn in as the 47th US president on 20 January 2025, the day after TikTok's deadline to be sold or banned. |
Ahead of the hearing, his lawyer filed a legal brief saying that Trump "opposes banning TikTok" and intends to resolve the issues "through political means once he takes office". | Ahead of the hearing, his lawyer filed a legal brief saying that Trump "opposes banning TikTok" and intends to resolve the issues "through political means once he takes office". |
Trump's meeting with TikTok's boss Shou Zi Chew in December also increased hopes among the law's opponents that he would intervene. | Trump's meeting with TikTok's boss Shou Zi Chew in December also increased hopes among the law's opponents that he would intervene. |
The Supreme Court will consider TikTok and Bytedance's arguments - and Trump's request for the matter to be delayed - and decide whether to overturn the lower court's ruling. | |
It is not known how long that decision will take. | |
However if the Supreme Court upholds the law banning the platform, it is unclear what Trump would do to prevent it going offline. | |
How would a TikTok ban work? | How would a TikTok ban work? |
Online marketplaces, such as app stores, and web hosting platforms will have to stop making TikTok available to Americans if its ban goes ahead. | Online marketplaces, such as app stores, and web hosting platforms will have to stop making TikTok available to Americans if its ban goes ahead. |
Politicians have told Apple and Google's bosses, external to be ready to pull TikTok from the App Store and Google Play store for iOS and Android devices. | Politicians have told Apple and Google's bosses, external to be ready to pull TikTok from the App Store and Google Play store for iOS and Android devices. |
Most people download apps onto their smartphones and tablets through app stores, so the ban would stop new users from getting TikTok. | Most people download apps onto their smartphones and tablets through app stores, so the ban would stop new users from getting TikTok. |
It also would mean that people who already had the app would no longer be able to get future updates designed to improve security or fix bugs. | It also would mean that people who already had the app would no longer be able to get future updates designed to improve security or fix bugs. |
The bill forbids applications controlled by US adversary countries from being updated and maintained in the US. | The bill forbids applications controlled by US adversary countries from being updated and maintained in the US. |
It gives broad powers to the president to limit apps with ties not only to China but also Russia, Iran and North Korea. | It gives broad powers to the president to limit apps with ties not only to China but also Russia, Iran and North Korea. |
How a TikTok ban would - or wouldn't - work in practice | How a TikTok ban would - or wouldn't - work in practice |
What data does TikTok collect? | What data does TikTok collect? |
At the heart of TikTok is its algorithm - a set of instructions that determine the content displayed to users, based on data about how they engaged with other material. | At the heart of TikTok is its algorithm - a set of instructions that determine the content displayed to users, based on data about how they engaged with other material. |
TikTok can use this data, as well as information about an individual user's device, location and keystroke rhythms, to recommend videos to users on its automatically generated For You feed. | TikTok can use this data, as well as information about an individual user's device, location and keystroke rhythms, to recommend videos to users on its automatically generated For You feed. |
Some researchers, external have previously claimed the app collects more data from users than others in order to power its highly personalised system. | Some researchers, external have previously claimed the app collects more data from users than others in order to power its highly personalised system. |
However, rival social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram collect similar user data. | However, rival social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram collect similar user data. |
Are Chinese tech firms a security risk? | Are Chinese tech firms a security risk? |
Is TikTok banned in other countries? | Is TikTok banned in other countries? |
TikTok is already banned in India, which was one of the app's largest markets before it was outlawed there in June 2020. | TikTok is already banned in India, which was one of the app's largest markets before it was outlawed there in June 2020. |
It is also blocked in Iran, Nepal, Afghanistan and Somalia. | It is also blocked in Iran, Nepal, Afghanistan and Somalia. |
The UK government and Parliament banned TikTok from staff work devices in 2023, as has the European Commission. | The UK government and Parliament banned TikTok from staff work devices in 2023, as has the European Commission. |
The BBC also advised staff to delete TikTok from corporate phones because of security fears. | The BBC also advised staff to delete TikTok from corporate phones because of security fears. |