TikTok says it is restoring service for U.S. users after Trump comments

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NBC News

Jan. 19, 2025, 12:29 PM EST


TikTok said Sunday that it would be restoring service to U.S. users after blocking it the evening before.

In a statement, TikTok said its video platform was coming back online after President-elect Donald Trump provided assurances necessary to the company’s service providers.

"In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service," TikTok said in a post on X. "We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive."

"It’s a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship. We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States," the company added.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/tiktok-says-restoring-service-us-users-rcna188320

[C_U_L8R]

1. Trump genuflecting kabuki theatre.

4 years of phony baloney has begun.

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

2. Since when does executive branch have authority to overturn Supreme Court????

Maybe Im missing something - civics class was many decades ago - but I dont think the Exec. branch can undo Supreme Court decision????

[endgenocide]

4. I thought the same thing

The ban was passed in the house and senate it's a fucking law, the supremes upheld the law, how the fuck can a chinese company say they are going to defy the law based on what a President says or does, he's not a king, not yet anyway?

[ForgoTheConsequence]

6. Biden punted it to Trump by saying he wouldn't enforce the penalties.

[PortTack]

8. It isn't ByteDance, which is mostly owned by Americans defying law. Said law has a 90 day extension

Illiget 47 is going to give them that extension.

[reACTIONary]

11. The ban is against providing the app in the app stores....

.... not against providing the service. TT is not violating the law by continuing the service - Apple and Google would be violating the law if they are still providing the app.

[LeftInTX]

13. As of now, it's not available for download in Google Play.

However, the Apple App is working on my husband's phone.

I'm not gonna bother trying to open it in my Android. (I had issues with the app a few months ago and prefer not to deal with it)

I don't know how the fines work: $5K/user/day. Does "user" mean downloads or does it mean accessing an installed app.

[reACTIONary]

7. The executive branch has discression as to ...

.... which laws it will enforce and how vigorously to enforce them. I'm sure it's more nuanced than that, but that is the case.

The law does not outright ban TT, it bans distributing the app. So what TT is doing is not an outright violation of the law. It would be the response of Apple and Google app stores that would be enforced.

The law names TT, but also lets the executive decide which other apps are to be considered a security threat. I don't know if that includes "un-re-considering" the apps named in the law, but maybe there is an out there.

[Eugene]

12. Dump is asserting executive discretion by executive order in enforcing the law. MAGA Mike Johnson has other ideas.

Johnson says the law should be enforced now. Some of his fellow Congressional Repubs are similarly revolting.

[LeftInTX]

14. Yes, I think a party can also sue if it remains available. (If they have standing)

I don't know who would have "standing" in this case.

[Nigrum Cattus]

3. Just another set-up

Having a suspension date of 19 Jan was a decision by congress.
I'm sure the repubs cut a deal with tiktok to give credit to tRump
for restoring the platform. The congressional law was enacted to
protect the U.S. from chinese spying, so much for national security.

[reACTIONary]

9. TT isn't a national security threat, and even if it was...

... this law would do nothing to prevent the sort of security threat that the law supposedly is targeting.

To actually make any sort of difference, a comprehensive and universal set of policies across all apps would be necessary. Such a comprehensive approach would very much resemble a "Great Wall of America" and would not be easily established and probably could not be done without violating Americans free speech rights.

IMHO this law is just performative populist scapegoating.

[Prairie Gates]

5. Sometimes people ask: How dumb does Trump think Americans are?

The answer, unfortunately, is "Exactly as dumb as they are."

[reACTIONary]

10. Confirmed! Logged into my Free Speach test download of TT...

... and it is still spewing crap!

Guess I won't have to download Mao's Little Red Book.