Judge temporarily halts Trump administration's TikTok ban
A U.S. federal judge on Sunday partially granted TikTok's preliminary injunction against a Trump administration order to ban downloads of the app, though more sweeping restrictions are still on track to take effect in November.
In his order, Judge Carl Nichols of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia said the temporary relief does not cover a pending service shutdown "at this time," reports The New York Times.
"We're pleased that the court agreed with our legal arguments and issued an injunction preventing the implementation of the TikTok app ban," a spokesman for TikTok told the publication following news of the decision. "We will continue defending our rights for the benefit of our community and employees. At the same time, we will also maintain our ongoing dialogue with the government to turn our proposal, which the president gave his preliminary approval to last weekend, into an agreement."
TikTok is facing a multifaceted attack from the Trump administration, which views the Chinese-owned company as a threat to national security. The Commerce Department in September announced the app would be pulled from app stores like Apple's App Store and Google's Play Store on Sept. 20. A more comprehensive ban set for Nov. 12 will prohibit American internet carriers from handling TikTok's traffic, rendering the app useless.
To avoid a shutdown, TikTok owner ByteDance has been seeking a buyer for its U.S. operations in compliance with the Trump administration's vague demands. A tentative arrangement with Oracle and a host of financial partners was reached on Sept. 17, leading Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to extend the September download ban to 11:59 p.m. today.
TikTok last week filed a request for an emergency injunction as it worked toward a permanent deal. Judge Nichols' decision came down less than five hours before deadline.
The Commerce Department in a statement on Sunday said it will comply with the injunction, but noted Trump's order was "fully consistent with the law and promotes legitimate national security interests."
In his order, Judge Carl Nichols of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia said the temporary relief does not cover a pending service shutdown "at this time," reports The New York Times.
"We're pleased that the court agreed with our legal arguments and issued an injunction preventing the implementation of the TikTok app ban," a spokesman for TikTok told the publication following news of the decision. "We will continue defending our rights for the benefit of our community and employees. At the same time, we will also maintain our ongoing dialogue with the government to turn our proposal, which the president gave his preliminary approval to last weekend, into an agreement."
TikTok is facing a multifaceted attack from the Trump administration, which views the Chinese-owned company as a threat to national security. The Commerce Department in September announced the app would be pulled from app stores like Apple's App Store and Google's Play Store on Sept. 20. A more comprehensive ban set for Nov. 12 will prohibit American internet carriers from handling TikTok's traffic, rendering the app useless.
To avoid a shutdown, TikTok owner ByteDance has been seeking a buyer for its U.S. operations in compliance with the Trump administration's vague demands. A tentative arrangement with Oracle and a host of financial partners was reached on Sept. 17, leading Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to extend the September download ban to 11:59 p.m. today.
TikTok last week filed a request for an emergency injunction as it worked toward a permanent deal. Judge Nichols' decision came down less than five hours before deadline.
The Commerce Department in a statement on Sunday said it will comply with the injunction, but noted Trump's order was "fully consistent with the law and promotes legitimate national security interests."
Comments
The thing that concerns me is not a TikTok ban but that so many politicians and organisations and citizens are wilfully blind toward China’s government, despite there being overwhelming evidence that they are not passive and innocent and are a real threat to the US.
The man is absolutely notoriously resistant to ANY advice or info that contradict his bizarre little world view, be it from economic advisers, the State Department, the CDC, epidemiologists, or the fucking Pentagon.
He has NO idea about TikTok; he just saw a way to maybe funnel a check through a charity into his own pocket, to spend on reëlection campaigning.
So Rayz, which one to you should the US be keeping an eye on as a larger potential threat, a 74-year old+ former President with failing thought, or a rapidly expanding China with a semi-permanent leader whose political and social interests are not shared by even its neighbors?
Anyway to get back on topic, the judge did not reverse the ultimate ban but only put a hold on the demand that both Apple and Google remove the app from their respective app stores today.
https://www.vox.com/recode/2020/8/11/21363092/why-is-tiktok-national-security-threat-wechat-trump-ban
The reasoning they give (government employee might also have sensitive information on their phones) is pure bullshit. Anyone in government in any sort of position with access to such information would have a managed device with severe restrictions. They couldn’t even install Tik Tok on their phones in the first place.
To imply that people who work for the FBI, CIA, military, federal government or any other agency got their phone from Verizon or AT&T and set it up themselves with their own personal number is beyond ridiculous.
I myself started looking at where the app store affiliates were located a long time ago, due to the fact I know China is a big security hole.
Tik Tok is a security hole. Just because YOU don't know the specifics does not make that untrue.
Best to comment on subjects you actually have knowledge of.