Fri Jan 17 04:24:07 UTC 2025: ## TikTok Ban Postponed: Reprieve Likely Despite Sunday Deadline

**Washington, D.C.** – A looming ban on the popular social media platform TikTok in the United States, scheduled to take effect this Sunday, appears likely to be postponed. While the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA) mandates a shutdown unless Chinese owner ByteDance divests ownership, US officials have signaled a reprieve is imminent.

The app, used by 170 million Americans, faces removal from app stores and restrictions on US tech companies hosting it if the deadline passes without action. However, both the Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration have indicated they are working on alternative solutions to prevent a complete shutdown. President-elect Trump’s team, including incoming National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, has voiced support for finding a way to maintain the app while protecting user data. Furthermore, TikTok CEO Shou Chew is scheduled to attend President-elect Trump’s inauguration, suggesting ongoing negotiations.

The White House could grant a 90-day extension under PAFACA if significant progress is made towards a sale of TikTok. President-elect Trump is also reportedly considering an executive order to prevent the ban. Legal experts, like Georgetown University law professor Anupam Chander, believe the saga will likely continue beyond the weekend. A Supreme Court case challenging the ban on free speech grounds is pending, although justices have expressed skepticism toward TikTok’s arguments.

The proposed ban stems from national security concerns regarding potential Chinese government surveillance and propaganda. While ByteDance partnered with Oracle in 2022 to store US user data on US servers, this failed to alleviate Congressional concerns. Experts like Claire Chu from Janes highlight the broader issue of governments using social media for information gathering and understanding public sentiment.

Critics, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), argue the ban is a misguided approach to data privacy. They contend that focusing on comprehensive data privacy legislation, rather than targeting individual apps, is a more effective solution, as adversaries can obtain data through various other means.

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