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Why Is TikTok Banned On My Phone?
Legislation to ban TikTok in the United States has taken effect. As a result, I can no longer download or update my TikTok app, leaving me wondering why TikTok is banned on my phone.
According to Ewan Spence, Senior Contributor at Forbes, the “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act” has been enacted in the US. This law restricts applications developed by ByteDance Ltd (and its subsidiaries) from being made available for download or updating. This applies not only to TikTok but also other apps like TikTok Studio, Douyin, and other services that fall under ByteDance’s umbrella.
I must admit that I’m a bit surprised that my friend in another country still has access to TikTok while I’m stuck with an alert on opening the app stating “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now. A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the US. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.”
As I ponder what could happen next, it appears that ByteDance has voluntarily decided to stop providing the TikTok service in the USA. Many believe this is a political move to encourage citizens to engage with their representatives and negotiate a solution.
But why did President Trump make an announcement about working with ByteDance on a solution? His intention seems clear – he wants to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. The alert message even hints at this, stating “Please stay tuned.”
However, there’s still uncertainty surrounding the situation. According to Spence, the Act doesn’t instruct ByteDance to stop the TikTok service, but rather prevents it from being distributed in the US going forward.
As I ponder what could happen next, I’m left wondering if President Trump can reverse the ban. As it stands, he would “most likely” give TikTok a 90-day reprieve from a potential ban once he takes office – provided ByteDance shows progress towards selling TikTok to a US company. It’s unclear whether an executive order could be used outside of this delay for sale.
One thing is certain – Apple and Google will not want to expose themselves to legal liabilities in the billions. They might refrain from restoring TikTok to the app stores until the legal situation becomes clear.
In conclusion, while I’m disappointed by the ban, I hope that ByteDance takes a step towards selling the platform or that Congress decides to repeal the Act.
Source: www.forbes.com
