The law passed by Congress in 2024 went into effect yesterdaymaking the short video platform inaccessible to its more than 170 million users in the United States. Allows the head of state to postpone implementation for 90 days while waiting to find a buyer, an alternative offered to TikTok’s parent company, China’s ByteDanceinstead of a ban. So far ByteDance has refused to sell the platform, which launched just ten years ago and has become a must-have for the vast majority of young Internet users.
Donald Trump even encouraged internet providers and app stores to immediately restore access to TikTok, promising that his decree will retroactively protect them from possible sanctions. The law provides for very heavy fines for these technical service providers, up to $5,000 per user for app shops.
«I ask companies not to black out TikTok. I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the ban in order to reach an agreement to protect our national security. The decree will confirm that companies” will not face consequences for having “helped maintain TikTok – Trump highlights -. I would like the United States to have a 50% share. By doing so we will be able to save TikTok and put it in good hands. Without the American green light there is no TikTok. With our green light it’s worth hundreds of billions of dollars. My initial idea is that of a joint venture between the current owners and the new ones in which the United States will have 50%.”
And in the evening comes the turning point: «In agreement with the suppliers, we are restoring the service. We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and giving assurances to providers.” TikTok states this by pledging to “work with Trump for a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States”.