As the Biden administration approaches its final days, the future of TikTok has become a pressing topic. Millions of American users are anxiously awaiting news regarding the popular app, which is facing potential restrictions due to concerns over data privacy and national security.
President-elect Donald Trump recently spoke about his plans to address these concerns in a phone interview with NBC News’ “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker. He stated that he will “most likely” grant TikTok a 90-day extension to avoid a ban once he takes office this coming Monday. This decision comes as American TikTok users brace for a possible shutdown.
“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 explained during the interview. He emphasized that while he hasn’t made a final decision, the extension is under consideration.
However, the existing deadline for TikTok’s China-based parent company to sell to a non-Chinese buyer is set for Sunday. Thus, even if Trump announces the extension on Monday, it might not prevent the app from going dark for at least a day. The bipartisan law passed last year allows for such extensions under specific conditions, but the timeline remains tight.
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As we previously reported, concerns about TikTok primarily stem from its data collection practices. U.S. officials have expressed worries that sensitive user information could be accessed by the Chinese government. Additionally, there are fears regarding the app’s algorithm, which some officials believe could be manipulated by Chinese authorities to influence the content that users see.
In defense of its practices, TikTok has countered these allegations, asserting that the U.S. has not provided evidence that China has attempted to manipulate content or gather data on American users through the platform. As the situation develops, the tension surrounding TikTok continues to escalate, leaving users and officials alike eager for a resolution.
“If I decide to do that, I’ll probably announce it on Monday,” Trump concluded, leaving many to wonder what the future holds for the widely-used social media platform.
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