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Thursday, Apr 03, 2025
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US Lawmakers Push for Delay in TikTok Ban as Deadline Approaches
With a January 19 deadline looming, two Democratic lawmakers urge an extension for ByteDance to divest TikTok’s U.S. assets amid concerns over widespread disruption.
As the deadline approaches for ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, to either divest its U.S. assets or face a potential ban, U.S. lawmakers are calling for an extension to allow more time for a resolution.
On Monday, Senator Edward Markey and Representative Ro Khanna, both Democrats, urged Congress and President Joe Biden to delay the January 19 deadline, citing the significant consequences a ban could have for millions of American users.
Markey announced plans to introduce legislation seeking a 270-day extension to ensure that a thorough process is followed, rather than rushing a decision that could dismantle a popular platform with 170 million American users.The issue stems from a law that mandates ByteDance sell TikTok's U.S. operations by the deadline due to national security concerns over the potential for Chinese government influence.
The U.S. government has raised alarms about the app’s data collection practices and the possibility that the Chinese government could gain access to sensitive information through the platform.
TikTok has consistently denied these allegations, asserting that user data is not shared with the Chinese government.However, ByteDance's attempt to challenge the law in court faced a major hurdle when the U.S. Supreme Court held arguments on Friday, with TikTok's legal representatives arguing that completing a sale by the January 19 deadline is impossible.
Noel Francisco, the lawyer representing TikTok and ByteDance, warned that a forced ban would cause the platform to quickly go dark, effectively shutting down the app for millions of American users.
He argued that the timeline was simply too tight to manage the sale of such a complex business in just a week.The Biden administration has the option to extend the deadline by 90 days if it certifies that ByteDance is making substantial progress toward divesting TikTok’s U.S. assets.
However, the likelihood of meeting this requirement is low, leaving the situation in a state of uncertainty.
President-elect Donald Trump has also requested the court delay the law’s implementation, suggesting he should be granted time after his inauguration on January 20 to pursue a “political resolution” to the issue.If the court does not intervene by Sunday, the law would take effect, banning new downloads of TikTok from app stores and severely restricting the app’s functionality for existing users.
While users would still be able to access the app temporarily, services would eventually degrade as companies are prohibited from providing support or updates to the platform.Markey and Khanna both emphasized the severe impact a ban would have on American users, particularly those who rely on TikTok for social connections, entertainment, and even their livelihoods.
Markey pointed out that the platform has become an integral part of the social fabric for millions, with a ban potentially silencing a vast online community.The White House has yet to comment on the situation, leaving the future of TikTok in the U.S. uncertain as both legal challenges and legislative efforts continue to unfold.
With the clock ticking toward the January 19 deadline, the pressure on both the Biden administration and ByteDance to find a resolution is mounting.
On Monday, Senator Edward Markey and Representative Ro Khanna, both Democrats, urged Congress and President Joe Biden to delay the January 19 deadline, citing the significant consequences a ban could have for millions of American users.
Markey announced plans to introduce legislation seeking a 270-day extension to ensure that a thorough process is followed, rather than rushing a decision that could dismantle a popular platform with 170 million American users.The issue stems from a law that mandates ByteDance sell TikTok's U.S. operations by the deadline due to national security concerns over the potential for Chinese government influence.
The U.S. government has raised alarms about the app’s data collection practices and the possibility that the Chinese government could gain access to sensitive information through the platform.
TikTok has consistently denied these allegations, asserting that user data is not shared with the Chinese government.However, ByteDance's attempt to challenge the law in court faced a major hurdle when the U.S. Supreme Court held arguments on Friday, with TikTok's legal representatives arguing that completing a sale by the January 19 deadline is impossible.
Noel Francisco, the lawyer representing TikTok and ByteDance, warned that a forced ban would cause the platform to quickly go dark, effectively shutting down the app for millions of American users.
He argued that the timeline was simply too tight to manage the sale of such a complex business in just a week.The Biden administration has the option to extend the deadline by 90 days if it certifies that ByteDance is making substantial progress toward divesting TikTok’s U.S. assets.
However, the likelihood of meeting this requirement is low, leaving the situation in a state of uncertainty.
President-elect Donald Trump has also requested the court delay the law’s implementation, suggesting he should be granted time after his inauguration on January 20 to pursue a “political resolution” to the issue.If the court does not intervene by Sunday, the law would take effect, banning new downloads of TikTok from app stores and severely restricting the app’s functionality for existing users.
While users would still be able to access the app temporarily, services would eventually degrade as companies are prohibited from providing support or updates to the platform.Markey and Khanna both emphasized the severe impact a ban would have on American users, particularly those who rely on TikTok for social connections, entertainment, and even their livelihoods.
Markey pointed out that the platform has become an integral part of the social fabric for millions, with a ban potentially silencing a vast online community.The White House has yet to comment on the situation, leaving the future of TikTok in the U.S. uncertain as both legal challenges and legislative efforts continue to unfold.
With the clock ticking toward the January 19 deadline, the pressure on both the Biden administration and ByteDance to find a resolution is mounting.
