President Joe Biden has opted not to enforce a law to ban TikTok, a popular social media app, leaving the decision to his successor, President-elect Donald Trump. The law, which was set to take effect just one day before Biden leaves office, mandates that ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, sell the app or face a nationwide ban.
A U.S. official confirmed Biden’s decision, emphasizing that the matter will be handed over to the incoming administration.
The law, passed by Congress and signed by Biden last year, reflects growing national security concerns about the app’s ownership.
Supporters of the ban argue that ByteDance’s control could allow the Chinese government access to the personal data of U.S. users. Critics fear this data could be weaponized against Americans during conflicts or crises.
President-elect Trump, who has expressed a desire to “save” TikTok, is reportedly considering delaying the law’s enforcement. Sources suggest he may issue an executive order extending the January 19, 2025 deadline by up to 90 days to explore alternative solutions.
Incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz confirmed that steps would be taken to prevent TikTok from being immediately shut down, provided a workable deal is in progress.
TikTok has taken the battle to the Supreme Court, challenging the law on constitutional grounds. Earlier this month, the court agreed to fast-track the case, which centers on whether the ban violates free speech protections under the First Amendment.
Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban law / The law gives TikTok until January 19th to divest from ByteDance.
TikTok’s ban in the US is still on track for January 19th unless President Biden extends the deadline or ByteDance sells the company. The Biden administration may delay… pic.twitter.com/vrT15aiso3
— WizTech (@WizTech161) January 17, 2025
Lawyers for TikTok argued last week that the law unfairly targets the platform and could set a dangerous precedent for restricting online expression.
Despite these arguments, the justices appeared unconvinced that the potential threat to free speech outweighs national security concerns.
John Sauer, who will serve as solicitor general under the Trump administration, filed a brief last month urging the court to delay the law. He argued that the issue could be addressed politically once Trump assumes office, allowing more time for negotiations.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew thanks Donald Trump for working to find a solution to keep TikTok available in the US after Supreme Court upholds ban.
— Tiffany Fong (@TiffanyFong_) January 17, 2025
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, who recently met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago to discuss the ban, plans to attend the president-elect’s inauguration on Monday (20 January, 2025). Chew will be joined by other prominent tech executives, including Elon Musk of X, Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, Tim Cook of Apple, and Jeff Bezos of Amazon.
The White House has not responded to requests for comment on the matter. Meanwhile, the debate over TikTok’s future highlights the ongoing tension between protecting national security and upholding digital freedoms in an increasingly connected world.
