Judge brakes Trump’s ban on TikTok in the US
A US federal judge has postponed US President Donald Trump's ban on the Tiktok app. But a broader ban is expected in November, about a week later after the presidential election
It's stalled for TikTok in the US. A district judge has temporarily suspended the Trump administration's order that had arranged, starting today, the ban on TikTok from the American app stores of Apple and Google .
District of Columbia federal court judge Carl J. Nichols then granted the lawyers' request for the Chinese-owned company ByteDance.
However, the judge refused "at this moment" to block the restrictions that will come into effect on November 12 on technical and commercial agreements, which are essential for the proper functioning of the app.
The Trump administration is trying to force the sale of TikTok to US companies. Washington fears that US user data will fall into the hands of the Chinese government.
WHAT THE JUDGE OF THE FEDERAL COURT HAS ESTABLISHED
The federal court order temporarily prohibits banning downloads and updates of TikTok at least until a new ruling by the judges.
THE REACTION OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
The Trump administration has assured it will comply with the court order, but has announced it will appeal. The Commerce Department pointed out that this is a "preliminary injunction".
"The government will abide by the court order and has taken immediate measures to that effect, but intends to strongly defend the executive order" with which the ban was ordered, reads a note in which it is assured that the Commerce, Wilbur Ross, will continue to work for the president's decision to be implemented.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE CHINESE APP?
However, there is no ruling on the ban the Trump administration has imposed on TikTok as of November, which could still go on. According to Washington's decisions, the app will stop working completely for US smartphone users on November 12.
THE COMMENT OF TIKTOK
Satisfied for the moment TikTok. "We are delighted that the court agreed with our legal arguments," the company said. Promising to continue to defend their interests and those of users. TikTok also assured that it will continue the dialogue with the US administration "to transform our proposal, to which the president gave his preliminary approval last weekend, into an agreement" with the Oracle and Walmart groups. So as to be able to save the group from the sale of its activities in the United States.
THE WASHINGTON WAR IN TIKTOK
TikTok has approximately 100 million users in the United States. President Donald Trump's administration argues that because TikTok collects user data, it poses a security risk, as Chinese authorities may have access to that data.
TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance deny the allegations. The Chinese company also assures that American user data will be stored in the United States under an interim agreement between TikTok and two major US companies.
WHAT WILL BECOME THE ORACLE-WALMART OFFER?
The injunction comes at a time when negotiations are underway to define the terms of a preliminary agreement for Oracle and Walmart to take stakes in a new company, TikTok Global, which will oversee US operations.
Trump said he gave his "blessing" to the deal, which is currently under review by the US Foreign Investment Committee (CFIUS).
The fate of the talks to buy TikTok remains unclear. The key terms of the deal – including who will have the majority ownership – are still controversial.
Without forgetting that the agreement will also have to receive approval in China. Due to a new export control law recently introduced by Beijing.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/mondo/giudice-blocca-il-divieto-di-tiktok-negli-usa-imposto-da-trump/ on Mon, 28 Sep 2020 11:49:01 +0000.