The future of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain as another deadline looms in the ongoing battle between the federal government and the app’s China-based parent company, ByteDance.
While April 5 remains a key date for TikTok, the situation is more complex than a simple deadline.
Why is TikTok facing another ban on April 5?
U.S. officials have long expressed concerns that TikTok’s ownership by ByteDance, a Beijing-headquartered company, poses national security risks. Lawmakers argue that Chinese law could compel ByteDance to share American user data with the government, a claim TikTok has denied on many occasions.
Efforts to restrict the app date back to 2020, when President Donald Trump issued executive orders to ban TikTok unless it was sold to a U.S. company.
Those actions were blocked in court, but the debate never entirely faded.
In January, TikTok was temporarily removed from major app stores after failing to meet a divestment deadline set by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).
However, the then-Biden administration granted a 90-day extension, pushing the next critical deadline to April 5.
What happens to TikTok on April 5?
Contrary to widespread speculation, April 5 does not mark an automatic ban.
Do not expect the app to go dark at midnight. However, the date serves as a checkpoint for ByteDance to demonstrate progress toward selling TikTok’s U.S. operations.
Several companies, including Amazon, Zoop and OnlyFans have reportedly bid for TikTok’s U.S. operations ahead of the divestment deadline. While offers remain undisclosed, some believe the purchase could range anywhere from $30 to $45 billion.
If no credible steps are taken, the government could enforce stricter penalties. However, the ultimate deadline for a full sale ‘technically’ remains January 2025 under the recently passed Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.
ByteDance publicly resisted selling TikTok, notably its core recommendation algorithm, which it considers exclusive.
Legal experts anticipate the company will challenge the law in court, arguing that a forced sale violates free speech and due process rights. Such a lawsuit could delay enforcement for months or even years, as seen in previous cases.
What’s next?
If no sustainable updates on a domestic TikTok buyout are not heard on April 5, the app could face removal from U.S. app stores and internet service providers may be barred from hosting it.
However, court injunctions could prevent an abrupt shutdown, meaning the legal battle may drag on well beyond the April 5 deadline.
Contact Multi-Media & Senior Sports Reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on TikTok (if it is still around) @3Noral. For more news from the Indianapolis Recorder, click here.
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Parham has worked with various leagues to provide a diverse perspective in sports, including the Big Ten, Big East, IHSAA, IndyCar, MLB, NHRA, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WWE and the Olympics. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
