The closure of TikTok due to actions taken by Joe Biden’s administration and its later “rescue” by Donald Trump, who took office as President of the United States on 20th January, are just parts of an ongoing conflict between the U.S. and the Chinese-owned social media platform. This conflict started amidst the pandemic and has been marked by legislative actions, legal challenges, and national security debates.
To put things in perspective, in 2020, the roles were reversed: Trump sought to ban TikTok, while Biden overturned that decision upon assuming the presidency in 2021. For clarity and to recall the sequence of events, we have outlined the following timeline:
In 2020, then-President Donald Trump issued an executive order to ban TikTok in the U.S., citing national security risks of the Chinese government potentially accessing American user data. The order demanded that ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, divest its U.S. operations to an American firm.
In August 2020, TikTok filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, claiming the order was unjustified and violated due process rights. A month later, the ban was halted by a court order, which allowed TikTok to continue its operations during the ongoing legal proceedings.
On June 9, 2021, President Joe Biden revoked the executive orders of his predecessor, Donald Trump, which had banned TikTok and WeChat. Instead of outright bans, Biden instructed the Department of Commerce to investigate potential security threats from foreign apps, including those from China. This move aimed to create a more thorough and evidence-based approach to evaluating such threats.
Biden signed the “No TikTok on Government Devices Act”, which barred TikTok from federal devices, with limited exceptions, reflecting concerns over data security and foreign influence.
In January 2023, the U.S. House of Representatives prohibited its employees from using TikTok on government devices, citing national security concerns and potential ties to the Chinese government. This decision was consistent with similar restrictions by at least 19 states. TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, denied espionage allegations and assured that American data is not stored in China.
The tension increased after reports emerged of ByteDance employees inappropriately accessing data of U.S. journalists investigating the company’s Chinese ties. ByteDance confirmed these actions and terminated the responsible employees. This incident reignited concerns about user data privacy and security in the U.S.
By this period, TikTok had become one of the most downloaded apps in the U.S., amassing over 137 million user accounts.
The Department of Justice and the FBI initiated an investigation into TikTok following reports of employee surveillance on American journalists, intensifying scrutiny on TikTok’s privacy practices.
In the same month, the Senate proposed the “RESTRICT Act”, which would empower the Secretary of Commerce to review and potentially ban tech apps linked to foreign adversaries if they threaten national security.
In May 2023, Montana became the first U.S. state to ban TikTok on personal devices and prevent app stores from offering it within the state. Governor Greg Gianforte signed the law SB 419 on May 17, 2023, citing the need to protect citizens’ personal data from the Chinese Communist Party. However, the ban, set to start in January 2024, was blocked by Federal Judge Donald W. Molloy on December 1, 2023, on constitutional grounds. Montana appealed the decision on January 2, 2024.
With 352 votes in favor and 65 against, the House of Representatives passed the “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act” (H.R. 7521), aiming to ban operations related to foreign-controlled apps, including TikTok, unless sold to American owners.
In April, President Biden signed H.R. 7521, requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok’s U.S. operations by January 19, 2025, or face a complete ban.
Subsequently, the Senate approved the bill, aimed at addressing national security concerns and potential Chinese government influence through the platform.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew expressed disappointment, describing the law as a silencing measure against American users, and vowed to continue defending users’ rights in the U.S.
A month after the legislation’s enactment, TikTok and ByteDance filed a lawsuit against the federal government, arguing the law is unconstitutional and infringes on the company’s fundamental rights.
In December 2024, a federal appeals court in Washington D.C. upheld the law requiring ByteDance to sell its U.S. operations by January 19, 2025, or face a total ban.
In response, the company filed an emergency motion with the D.C. Circuit Court, citing the high likelihood of the Supreme Court reviewing and reversing the decision.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump made his own request to the Supreme Court to halt the ban while seeking a “political resolution.” In a surprising turn, the former president, who had previously attempted to ban TikTok, claimed he could negotiate a deal addressing national security concerns.
On Friday, January 17, hours before the ban was to commence, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the government’s decision, stating the First Amendment did not apply as TikTok’s ownership could change without affecting free speech.
On Saturday, January 18, just before the law took effect, TikTok halted its services in the U.S., leaving over 170 million users without access, and the app was removed from Android and iOS stores.
Following intervention by President-elect Donald Trump, who announced a 90-day moratorium to find a solution and avoid the ban, TikTok resumed its services in the U.S., though it remained unavailable in app stores. Trump proposed 50% U.S. ownership of the company to address national security concerns.
This story continues to develop, awaiting further announcements from Donald Trump as he assumes the presidency.
Photo: Depositphotos.
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