Washington, Jan 19 (UNI) US President-elect Donald Trump said he might grant Chinese social media platform TikTok a 90-day delay to comply with requirements before it was potentially banned in the United States.
On Friday, the US Supreme Court denied TikTok a request to delay the ban on the social network in the US effective January 19, according to a court ruling seen by RIA Novosti. The company argued that the ban violated freedom of speech under the US Constitution. Trump takes office on January 20. The White House said the final decision on the fate of the Chinese social network in the US should be made by the new administration led by Trump due to the time frame for the ban to come into effect. Trump responded to the Supreme Court and White House decision by telling CNN that he would make his own decision.
"I think that would be, certainly, an option that we look at. The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it’s appropriate. You know, it’s appropriate. We have to look at it carefully. It’s a very big situation," Trump said in an interview with NBC News, adding that the final decision would be announced on Monday.
In April 2024, incumbent US President Joe Biden signed a law providing for the transfer of TikTok to the control of an American company under the threat of a ban on its operation in the United States, which could come into effect as early as January 19. According to a document obtained by RIA Novosti, Trump called on the Supreme Court to delay the ban on the Chinese social network so that he could resolve the dispute after he takes office on January 20.
TikTok is a short-video app owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. It was released in 2018. The social network has been under intense scrutiny by US authorities, who fear that the Chinese government could demand user data or use the app to spread propaganda. The company that owns TikTok has repeatedly expressed disagreement with these concerns. TikTok has about 170 million users in the US.
UNI SPUTNIK GNK