Future of video app: Trump grants Tiktok more time by decree

On his first day as US President, Donald Trump issued a decree guaranteeing the video app Tiktok more time until it shuts down in the USA. A US law stipulates that China-based Tiktok owner Bytedance had to separate from Tiktok by Sunday in order for the app to remain available in the US. Trump was convinced that he could negotiate a commercial agreement for the app with an extension of time.

In his executive order, Trump ordered the Justice Department not to enforce the law’s provisions for 75 days. When signing the order, Trump also explained his plan for the US to get a 50 percent share of the app. This is a reasonable price for Tiktok to continue to have access to the US market. Without the consent of the USA, Tiktok is worth nothing. Trump emphasized that he could either broker a sale or ensure that the app was shut down.

At the same time, Trump downplayed the data protection concerns. There are bigger problems than information about young Tiktok users falling into Chinese hands, he said.

The trigger for the law – which Trump also has to adhere to – are concerns that the Chinese government could gain access to data from US users via Tiktok and manipulate public opinion in the USA. Tiktok rejects this.