US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order delaying the enforcement of a law that would effectively ban TikTok in the United States. The decision provides ByteDance, TikTok’s Beijing-headquartered Chinese parent company, a 75-day window to negotiate terms addressing US national security concerns.


Why Does The TikTok Banning Law State?


The law, known as the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, came into effect on January 19. It prohibits the distribution and updating of apps linked to foreign adversaries, citing risks such as unauthorised data collection and potential manipulation of public opinion.


The legislation passed with overwhelming support in Congress and was signed into law under the previous administration of President Joe Biden.


TikTok, with over 170 million US users, has been at the centre of bipartisan scrutiny due to fears that the Chinese government could exploit its data access. Critics allege that the app’s parent company could be compelled to share user information or manipulate content to serve Beijing's interests.


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The ban’s enforcement led TikTok to briefly halt its services in the United States late Saturday. However, Trump’s executive order reversed this outcome, allowing the app to resume operations within 24 hours.


The US President described the decision as a move to protect jobs and preserve the app’s cultural significance among American youth.


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"We have a guy, TikTok Jack. He's a young kid, like 21 years old. We hired this guy and I went on TikTok," Trump said during a rally. "We went on TikTok as Republicans never won the youth vote. They won a lot of votes, but they never won the youth vote. But we won the youth vote by 36 points. So I like TikTok


Trump also proposed a solution to the ongoing concerns: having the United States take a 50 per cent ownership stake in TikTok to secure American interests and reduce reliance on its Chinese ownership.


While the pause provides temporary relief, the long-term future of TikTok in the US remains uncertain. ByteDance must now navigate a highly sensitive negotiation process while millions of users await clarity on whether their beloved app will remain accessible.