Trump says he’s ‘likely’ to delay the US ban on TikTok by 90 days

All eyes on whether Mr Trump can swoop in and find a way to save the app, which is used by roughly 170 million Americans.

The US TikTok ban is to prevent China gaining access to Americans’ sensitive information. Picture: AFP

The disappearance of TikTok threatens to erase billions of dollars from the US economy and remove an important platform used by millions of American businesses and social-media entrepreneurs to connect with customers.

TikTok’s demise won’t dent the US economy overall, but it is poised to crimp a sizeable sub-economy that has sprung up around the hugely popular app that is used by roughly 170 million Americans.

TikTok has pledged to “go dark” in the US without 11th-hour guarantees from the government, as president-elect Donald Trump says he is considering a reprieve – after he takes office.

After months of legal tussles, the US Supreme Court on Friday upheld a law that would ban the popular video-sharing platform in the name of national security, unless its Chinese owners reach a deal to sell it to non-Chinese buyers by Sunday.

Only months after overwhelmingly backing the law, politicians and officials are fretting about the ban, with all eyes on whether Mr Trump can swoop in and find a way to save the app.

TikTok, girding for a possible loss, has been planning to shut down the app in the US to comply with the law and avoid exposing companies that sell or distribute the app to legal liability. Proponents of a ban say any such impact is outweighed by the national security risks that the app could be used by China’s government to propagandise or spy on Americans – actions TikTok has said it wouldn’t allow.

Biden administration officials have signalled they don’t intend to enforce the ban on his final day in office and that enforcement would fall to the Trump White House, but that hasn’t been enough to give TikTok comfort.

TikTok late Friday publicly pressed the administration for more assurance that it won’t enforce the law, saying otherwise it will be forced to go dark.

From teenage dancers to grandmothers sharing cooking tips, TikTok has been embraced for its ability to transform ordinary users into global celebrities when a video goes viral.

It also has a fan in Mr Trump, who has credited the app with connecting him to younger voters, contributing to his election win.

After discussing TikTok with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday, Mr Trump told NBC News on Saturday that he could activate a 90-day reprieve from the ban after he reclaims the Oval Office.

“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,” he said.

“If I decide to do that, I’ll probably announce it on Monday.”

The law allows a 90-day delay if the White House can show progress towards a viable deal, but TikTok owner ByteDance has flatly refused any sale.

TikTok CEO Shou Chew appealed to Mr Trump, thanking him for his “commitment to work with us to find a solution”.

TikTok has been lobbying furiously to thwart the ban, and Mr Chew is expected to attend Mr Trump’s inauguration.

The law requires Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their app stores, blocking new downloads. The companies could face penalties of up to $US5000 per user who can access the app.

Oracle, which hosts TikTok’s servers, must also enforce the ban.

The Wall Street Journal
Additional reporting: AFP