President Donald Trump banned TikTok in the United States on January 19, but he reinstated it just 13 hours later through an executive order. Although the ban was quickly reversed, the incident triggered a series of legal and financial challenges.
The government postponed the divestment deadline to April 5, and as the date approaches without a resolution, companies like Apple, Google, and Oracle now face potential liabilities worth billions.
In the meantime, three US senators—Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-PA), and Cory Booker (D-NJ)—have drawn attention to the issue. They expressed concern that ignoring the legal requirements surrounding the ban is not a sustainable strategy in the long term.
In a letter addressed to President Trump, the senators called for a clear resolution or at least a detailed explanation by March 28. They argued that the inclusion of TikTok on app stores managed by Apple and Google directly contravenes the law, which could result in severe consequences, regardless of the current administration.
The senators highlighted that not only do Apple and Google risk legal action, but Oracle also faces scrutiny due to its provision of cloud computing services to TikTok. Although the US Department of Justice reassured these companies that it would not enforce the Act immediately, uncertainty remains regarding how long that assurance will last.
Moreover, the senators made it clear that they oppose a full ban on TikTok. Instead, they favor a solution where the company undergoes divestment, thereby preserving access for its 170 million US users and 7 million content creators. With the 75-day extension set to expire on April 5, the pressure is mounting.
In addition, multiple rumors have surfaced suggesting that US companies might acquire TikTok’s American operations. However, ByteDance has consistently maintained that dividing the algorithm would be highly challenging and could take years to implement.