TikTok on the brink of being banned in the US: The final frontier

(Dan Tri) - TikTok's future in the US is becoming increasingly uncertain as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick frankly stated that the United States will have to control the platform's algorithm.

If China does not accept the sale of the app, TikTok will have to stop operating in the US (Photo: RT).

The key is controlling the algorithm - the "heart" that operates the platform that serves about 170 million Americans.

Although the 2024 law requires TikTok to be sold or banned by January 19, President Donald Trump has extended that deadline three times.

Most recently, he extended the deadline by 90 days, to September 17, forcing parent company ByteDance to divest from TikTok in the US.

"ByteDance, the current owner, may retain a small portion. But essentially, the Americans will have control. The Americans will own the technology and control the algorithm," Minister Lutnick emphasized.

He has been adamant that if China does not accept the deal, TikTok will be shut down and that those decisions will be made soon.

The US previously proposed a deal that would allow TikTok to spin off its US operations into a new company, primarily owned and operated by US investors.

However, it fell apart after China objected, especially after President Trump's announcement of imposing high tariffs on Chinese goods.

Notably, President Trump's decision to extend the deadline comes despite federal law that went into effect in January.

Attorney General Pam Bondi also sent a letter to Apple and other companies that provide services or host the TikTok app, announcing that the Justice Department would drop any claims of potential violations of the law.

The reason given was that the sudden closure of TikTok could affect the President's oversight of national security and foreign affairs.

Some Democratic lawmakers have voiced opposition, arguing that President Trump does not have the legal authority to extend the deadline and doubting the deal under consideration will meet legal requirements.

So far, TikTok has not made any comments.

Will China make concessions to keep TikTok in the potential US market or will one of the world's largest social media platforms have to say goodbye to American users?

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/cong-nghe/tiktok-truoc-bo-vuc-bi-cam-o-my-gioi-han-cuoi-cung-20250725003349123.htm