Are these the last days of Tik Tok?
Donald Trump has issued an order to officially ban social media app TikTok. On August 6, Trump issued an order that will ban TikTok and WeChat from operating in the US starting in 45 days. The future-dated ban is dependent upon the companies being sold by its Chinese owned companies to a buyer in the United States.
The details of the ban still remain somewhat unclear. The order states “after 45 days, secretary of commerce Wilbur Ross shall identify the transactions that will be subjected to the restriction”. The ban isn’t necessarily about the fun-loving app many people have found solace in during this four-month pandemic. Trump and his administration are more so worried about the TikTok’s data collection.
Trump stated any deal with a US buyer would have to include “a substantial amount of money”. He went on to say, “Right now they don’t have any rights unless we give it to them. So if we’re going to give them the rights, then it has to come into this country. It’s a great asset, but it’s not a great asset in the United States unless they have approval in the United States.”.
It is no secret that Trump is a business-minded person. Many people will wonder if this ban is truly about the safety of its American user’s data. Or is Trump just trying to get a piece of the TikTok business? Americans have proven themselves to be very tech-savvy. If it does come down to the app getting canceled, will users still find a way to use it? There are still a lot of questions that remain unanswered. It seems as if we’ll have a clearer picture of TikTok’s future in 45 days.
