New York, CNN — The impending deadline for TikTok in America is rapidly approaching. The law mandating TikTok to secure a new, non-Chinese owner or face a ban is slated to take effect on Sunday. However, the company is struggling to finalize a sale before the deadline, putting 170 million American users at risk of losing access to a platform they rely on for entertainment, news, community, and business opportunities.
The recent Supreme Court decision upholding the law brings the ban one step closer. Still, with just two days left until the deadline, uncertainties persist about the exact outcomes. Will TikTok completely shut down in the US? Will the current administration under President Joe Biden provide guidance? Or will President Trump, with his impending inauguration, intervene in the matter?
The potential ban raises concerns about national security risks as US officials fear the Chinese government could exploit TikTok to access personal data of American users for nefarious purposes. Despite no concrete evidence of such misuse, the underlying risks, coupled with broader anti-China sentiments, have fueled the push for TikTok’s divestment from its Chinese parent company.
President Joe Biden’s legislation in April mandated TikTok’s sale to a non-Chinese entity, garnering bipartisan support in Congress. The law’s swift passage underscored the gravity of the security concerns associated with TikTok’s ownership.
As the deadline looms, uncertainty reigns over TikTok’s fate and potential acquisition by American investors. Speculations about the app’s forced closure or change in ownership cast a shadow over its future. Regardless of the outcome, the saga surrounding TikTok exemplifies the complex dynamics of geopolitics, technology, and national security interplay.