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Trump Unveils Plan For TikTok After App Used By 170M Americans Goes Dark

President-elect Donald J. Trump announced Sunday, Jan. 19, that he plans to issue an executive order to delay the federal ban on TikTok, just hours after the app went dark for 170 million US users.

The popular social media platform ceased operations late Saturday, Jan. 18, as a federal law requiring its sale or ban took effect. 

The popular social media platform ceased operations late Saturday, Jan. 18, as a federal law requiring its sale or ban took effect. 

Photo Credit: Pixabay/Antonbe

UPDATE: TikTok Access Restored After 14 Hours In United States

The popular social media platform ceased operations late Saturday, Jan. 18, as a federal law requiring its sale or ban took effect. 

The legislation passed last year by Congress amid concerns over TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, raised fears that the app could enable data collection or propaganda by the Chinese government. The Congressional action was upheld by the Supreme Court.

It prohibits app stores and cloud computing providers from distributing or hosting the app unless it is sold to a US-based entity.

“I’m asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I will issue an executive order on Monday (Jan. 20) to extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security.”

The law imposes steep financial penalties for noncompliance, prompting app stores to remove TikTok.

In his post, Trump sought to reassure companies, stating that his planned order would confirm “there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order.”

Trump, who will be sworn in for his second non-consecutive term on Monday, said he "would like the United States to have a 50 percent ownership position in a joint venture. By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands and allow it to stay up."

It remains unclear whether Trump’s order will succeed. Legal challenges are likely, and companies may determine his assurances insufficient to shield them from penalties under the law, which Congress passed overwhelmingly.

Check back to Daily Voice for updates.

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