How Will TikTok's Ban Impact Users in the U.S.?

"The fate of TikTok users 

The short-video platform "TikTok," owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, is facing an imminent threat of being banned in the United States. The app may be removed from stores like the Apple App Store and Google Play by next Sunday, potentially cutting off access for over 170 million active U.S. users.

U.S. authorities have insisted that "TikTok" poses a national security threat, accusing it of stealing the personal data of American users and spreading Chinese propaganda. This has led lawmakers to demand the app be sold to an American company. The sale could be worth as much as $50 billion. However, the Biden administration has refrained from taking decisive action before leaving office, leaving the matter for the next administration.

A senior official in Biden's administration clarified to ABC News that the government does not oppose TikTok continuing to operate as long as it is under American ownership. "TikTok must operate under American ownership, and we leave the final decision to the incoming administration," the official stated.

U.S. law requires tech companies like Apple, Google, and Oracle to comply with the app ban if a sale agreement is not reached. Failure to comply could result in fines of $5,000 per user, making compliance an economic necessity.

So far, none of the three conditions needed to extend the deadline have been met:

1. Proof that work is underway for a sale agreement.

2. Significant progress toward completing the sale.

3. Signing legally binding agreements for the sale to an American company.

While the incoming president, Donald Trump, has shown some sympathy toward the app, TikTok’s presence in the U.S. could end if no developments are announced before the Sunday deadline.

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