The video-sharing app TikTok is a phenomenon. Since its inception in 2017, the social network has nearly 90 million active users in the US, and the app has been downloaded an estimated two billion times.
This success has come at a cost. The platform is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. Since 2016, the US Government has become embroiled in a trade dispute with China, and TikTok, along with fellow Chinese company Huawei, has found itself in the middle of this political storm.
In mid-2020, President Trump announced that he would use an Executive Order to ban TikTok in the US. So, how do things currently stand?
Why Would the US Government Ban TikTok?
For decades, the digital world has been dominated by US-based companies. Whether it's hardware businesses like Apple, Hewlett-Packard, and IBM, or software-based companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, the US has produced some of the world's largest technology companies.
Over the past decade, China's tech sector has expanded rapidly, with a handful of companies like Alibaba, Huawei, and ByteDance becoming worldwide brands. To maintain fair competition, nation-states abide by international World Trade Organization (WTO) rules governing the state's level of support to its business.
The 45th President's administration claims that China has been flouting the WTO rules and giving their businesses an unfair advantage. Consequently, they sought to impose restrictions on the US-based operations of TikTok and Huawei. It's also been claimed that TikTok is a national security risk.
Is TikTok Banned in the United States?
In short, no. TikTok is not currently banned or restricted in the United States. While the dispute involving Huawei stretches back several years and has at least some credibility regarding national security, the claims about TikTok only surfaced after the President had launched his reelection campaign.
He also gave a hard date of September 20, 2020, for Executive Order 13942 to come into force, effectively banning TikTok and WeChat, another popular Chinese messaging app. After signing the Executive Order, the media heavily reported on the situation as TikTok has been an important and enjoyable form of entertainment for many during the COVID-19 pandemic.
After significant pressure, the President conceded that an American company could purchase TikTok's US operations. There were rumors that Microsoft would buy TikTok. However, after a deal failed to materialize, it was reported that the software company Oracle and Walmart would form a US-based entity to manage TikTok's American operations, although they would not take ownership of the company.
On September 18, 2020, TikTok filed a lawsuit against the President. Less than two weeks later, Judge Nichols issued an injunction effectively blocking the implementation of Executive Order 13942 in the short term.
Could TikTok Still Be Banned?
The US Presidential Election took place only five weeks after the injunction. The results project that Joe Biden will be the next President of the United States rather than Donald Trump.
Although yet to assume office, there is no indication that the trade war with China is high up the new administration's list of priorities. Consequently, it seems unlikely that the TikTok dispute will continue.
For its part, TikTok doesn't even know the status of its ban. The company has reportedly had no communication from President Trump's office since September. In his Executive Order, the President noted that data collected by TikTok is stored in China and potentially passed to the Chinese government.
While many of his arguments are politically motivated, this particular point is noteworthy. As a Chinese business, ByteDance does likely share data with the authorities. That said, this would apply to all Chinese companies, not just TikTok. However, these data collection policies, and close collaboration with state authorities, are also standard amongst US companies.
Ready to Join TikTok?
TikTok has become a firm favorite of teenagers worldwide, and it shows no sign of slowing down. As the pandemic drags on and we head in and out of lockdowns, it seems likely that people will continue to head to TikTok for entertainment and connection.
The video-sharing app can initially seem a bit daunting, but with a bit of guidance, you'll find plenty of ways to enjoy TikTok.
