U.S. President Joe Biden will not implement a ban on the social media platform TikTok before his departure from the White House. The proposed ban is set to take effect on January 19, just one day prior to Mr. Biden's exit from the Oval Office, as Donald Trump prepares to assume the presidency following his victory in the November election.
A law enacted by President Biden last year mandated that ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, must divest the app due to national security concerns or face a ban in a key market.
However, an anonymous official indicated that the Biden administration would defer the decision to President Trump, who is set to begin his second term on Monday.
A White House representative stated that the administration believes TikTok should remain under American ownership, emphasizing that the law's timing, just before the inauguration, means the next administration will need to take action. With over 170 million monthly users in the U.S., TikTok is reportedly planning to cease operations on Sunday.
Trump, who has shown interest in preserving TikTok, may take executive measures to postpone the enforcement of the divestment law for up to 90 days.
Incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz mentioned that the new law permits an extension as long as a viable deal is being negotiated.
Additionally, the Supreme Court has agreed to expedite a case brought by TikTok contesting the law, with its legal team arguing that the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act infringes on the platform's First Amendment rights.