The Biden administration has decided to pass the buck on the TikTok ban decision to the incoming Trump administration, according to a report by ABC News. This move comes despite calls from lawmakers to extend the deadline for the ban, which is set to take effect on Sunday.
A White House official stated that the administration's position on the matter has been clear: TikTok should continue to operate under American ownership. However, given the timing of the ban's implementation over a holiday weekend, just a day before the inauguration, the decision will be left to the next administration to implement.
While this move may seem like a victory for TikTok, it's essential to note that the incoming Trump administration may not be able to eliminate the significant monetary risk that companies like Apple and Google could face as long as the law is on the books. Unless the Trump administration takes action to formally extend the timeline for a sale of TikTok by Chinese owner ByteDance, the ban will still take effect.
Democratic lawmakers, led by Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA), have been urging President Biden to use his authority to grant a 90-day extension to allow for a sale of TikTok. However, the Biden administration has not indicated any plans to do so, and ByteDance has been focused on fighting the law rather than exploring potential buyers.
TikTok itself is not mandated by the law to shut down, but it may still choose to go dark if it fears its US service providers, including Oracle, might choose not to risk helping it operate or update. The company, along with Oracle, Apple, and Google, has not yet publicly stated how they plan to handle Sunday's deadline.
The Supreme Court, which seemed poised to uphold the law, has declined to pause it, and the ban will technically take effect on Sunday, regardless of whether anyone else chooses to take action. The court may still announce its opinions on Friday, but it's unclear what impact this will have on the situation.
The implications of this decision are far-reaching, with significant consequences for the tech industry and users of the popular social media platform. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the fate of TikTok in the US hangs in the balance, and only time will tell what the incoming Trump administration will do to address the issue.
In the meantime, users of the platform are left wondering what will happen to their accounts and the content they have created. The uncertainty surrounding the ban has sparked concern and anxiety among TikTok's user base, and it remains to be seen how the situation will be resolved.
As the clock ticks down to Sunday's deadline, the tech industry and users of TikTok alike are holding their breath, waiting to see what the future holds for the popular social media platform. One thing is certain: the decision to punt the TikTok ban to the incoming Trump administration has added a new layer of complexity to an already contentious issue.