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US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that postpones for 75 days the enactment of a law banning the social network TikTok. This was reported by Reuters.
In his order, Trump called on the Attorney General to temporarily not enforce the law, explaining that the administration needed more time to determine how to proceed with TikTok.
TikTok and security fears
The social network TikTok, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, has stopped working for its 170 million users in the US after a law came into force that bans the platform due to the risk of transferring US citizens’ data to the Chinese authorities.
On the day he took office, Trump promised to issue an executive order that would allow TikTok to continue operating in the US. At the same time, the president said that he wanted the United States to receive a 50% stake in the newly created joint venture.
Prospects for resolving the issue
Trump has previously repeatedly emphasised his demand for tighter control over platforms that collect data of American citizens. The postponement of TikTok’s ban may create conditions for new negotiations between the US government and ByteDance, in particular, regarding the transfer of management of the company’s US assets.
The move could also give the Trump administration time to develop a long-term plan that balances national security and American access to the popular social network.
