The potential for a TikTok ban is looming again, as President Trump’s executive order—which extended the app’s availability—expires on April 5.
That’s due to a 75-day extension meant to resolve the issue either by encouraging the owner, ByteDance, to sell the app or find some other way around the ban. Congress enacted and then the Supreme Court upheld the ban several months ago.
Now, new suitors have emerged, including one possibility mentioned by The Information. That report suggests that Oracle is a top pick to “help run” U.S. operations for the app or at least continue serving as the primary cloud provider as a way to fulfill the legal obligations. The report cited investors, bankers, and former executives as sources.
Trump also mentioned a few possibilities recently, including Frank McCourt, the former Los Angeles Dodgers owner, and Microsoft, which already owns LinkedIn.
If a U.S. company buys TikTok, it could mean we’re all safe to keep using the app after April 5. At this point its not clear what constitutes a sale, however.
The TikTok ban is not a simple issue
This is a thorny issue and requires a little explanation.
President Trump’s executive order was meant as a temporary solution to keep the app available on app stores. It means TikTok can continue updating the app and new users can download and install it.
The exact wording of the executive order is: “To pursue a resolution that protects national security while saving a platform used by 170 million Americans.”
As with any legal ruling, there is some room for interpretation. If TikTok does move all data collection to a U.S. firm like Oracle or Microsoft and fulfills the legal obligation to protect national security, it’s possible that President Trump would then affirm that TikTok has met the requirement. Congress, however, may disagree with that assessment.
The intention behind the ruling last year was to block a foreign adversary. If TikTok only allows a U.S. company to continue processing our data in the cloud, that might not meet the requirements unless Trump somehow intervenes or postpones the ban.
What the TikTok ban means for users
Frankly speaking, there isn’t a lot to go on at this point. ByteDance has not made an announcement about working with Oracle or any other firm, and we won’t even know if the phrase “help run” is enough to meet the legal requirements.
Apps like TikTok do not just run on a server for a few thousand users. When you have 170 million users, it means a vast infrastructure of cloud computing storage and real-time access that is fast, efficient, and secure. The reason apps like TikTok run so quickly and smoothly, allowing us to flip through videos without any delay, is due to that infrastructure.
The question to ask at this point is: Who will actually own TikTok in the future?
It’s clear that the law enacted by Congress was not just meant as a suggestion about using our data. It’s a legal requirement that could lead to more debate, more rulings, and more legislation. The TikTok ban is not fully resolved yet. Only time will tell.
