At 4pm Sunday (Sydney time) one of the world’s biggest Social Media platforms will likely vastly change as the clock ticks over to January 19 on the Eastern side of the USA – that date being the date the “TikTok Ban” comes into force across the United States.
But the company is not giving up without a fight, having gone through the Supreme Court they now simply wait and hope for some word from the current Biden Administration as it is just days away from handing over to the incoming Trump Administration.
It’s a passage of power so strange, it’s almost laughable.
The Current US Administration have now basically passed the buck – saying “Americans shouldn’t expect to see TikTok suddenly banned on Sunday,”
But that’s not enough for TikTok, who issued a statement saying that if they do not get some assurances the app will be forced to “Go Dark”, saying:
US TikTok users make big money by being on the platform (Via a “Creator fund” which shares revenue, something we don’t have in Australia) and so are up in arms, but nothing they can do will help so they have been signing off and farewelling their users, while also creating accounts on rival app Red Note which couldn’t be more Chinese if you asked – a real slap in the face of their legislators.
While it’s quite likely, I’d say frankly almost certain that the Trump Administration will put in place a stay of execution for the app, unfortunately the timing of the ban means TikTok needs more than just that.
TikTok is essentially calling for the Biden administration to confirm that they will not enforce any penalties on TikTok or other service providers in the immediate days after the ban comes into effect. An assurance of this kind will mean that they can then enter swiftly into negotiations with the Trump White House to resolve the issue.
Without that, there’s a legal risk to Apple and Google who are the hosts of the apps within their app stores, plus there’s a risk to any infrastructure or third party service providers working with TikTok.
Frankly, it’s a ridiculous situation all round.
The US Congressional hearings into TikTok were an embarrassment to their nation, they were effectively racist, questioning TikTok CEO Shou Chew about his links to China, referring to him as Chinese without ever accepting or even hearing his clear protestations that he is in fact a proud Singaporean.
If you think our national security is at risk because of a video app – delete the app. If you worry about our political and defence leaders being tracked or traced via the app – don’t allow those people to use it.
I’m confident TikTok will continue to thrive in the USA and around the world, with the only lasting impact being the rest of the world laughing at just how silly the US political system is to even allow this all to happen. Ban an app, but let people buy all the guns they want – don’t let’s get started on that one huh.
Trev is a Technology Commentator, Dad, Speaker and Rev Head.
He produces and hosts two popular podcasts, EFTM and Two Blokes Talking Tech. He also appears on over 50 radio stations across Australia weekly, and is the resident Tech Expert on Channel 9’s Today Show each day and appears regularly on A Current Affair.
Father of three, he is often found down in his Man Cave.
