Trump Poised To Delay TikTok Deadline Again Amid US–China Tension: 'We May Let It Die'
News Summary
President Donald Trump is expected to grant another extension to the TikTok divestment deadline, which would mark the fourth reprieve since the original January 2025 deadline. Despite bipartisan congressional criticism, Trump has publicly wavered on whether to let TikTok
Background
Since 2020, the U.S. government has expressed concerns over TikTok's data security and potential national security risks, fearing its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, could be influenced by the Chinese government to access U.S. user data or censor content. This led to the Trump administration first issuing an executive order in 2020, demanding ByteDance divest TikTok's U.S. operations. The Chinese government, on its part, views TikTok's core algorithms as critical national technology. In 2020, it revised its export control list to restrict AI technology exports, widely interpreted as a move to prevent the overseas transfer of TikTok's algorithms. This action has complicated any potential divestment deal, as buyers typically seek access to TikTok's full technology, including its recommendation algorithm.
In-Depth AI Insights
Given sustained bipartisan pressure from Congress, why has the Trump administration repeatedly delayed the TikTok deadline? - This indicates that the Trump administration's stance on TikTok involves multiple considerations beyond solely national security concerns. Trade leverage could be a key factor, using TikTok as a bargaining chip with China, especially as it continues its