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LAST UPDATE | 20 Jan
TIKTOK RESTORED SERVICES in the United States last night after briefly going dark, as a law banning the wildly popular app on national security grounds came into effect.
The video-sharing platform credited President-elect Donald Trump, who retakes power on Monday, for making the reversal possible – though the outgoing administration of President Joe Biden had earlier said that it would not enforce any ban.
TikTok had shut down in the United States late Saturday as a deadline loomed for its Chinese owners ByteDance to sell its US subsidiary to non-Chinese buyers.
Earlier yesterday, as millions of dismayed users found themselves barred from the app, Trump promised to issue an executive order delaying the ban to allow time to “make a deal.”
He also called in a post on his Truth Social platform for the United States to take part ownership in TikTok.
Trump said he “would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture,” arguing that the app’s value could surge to “hundreds of billions of dollars – maybe trillions.”
“By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands,” wrote Trump, who had previously backed a TikTok ban and during his first term in office made moves towards one.
In a statement posted on X following Trump’s comments, TikTok said it “is in the process of restoring service.”
“We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans.”
TikTok, which was back online in the United States by Sunday afternoon, did not address Trump’s call for part American ownership of the app.
Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives told AFP the episode “marked a big win for TikTok and a political win for Trump,” likening the episode to “high-stakes poker between the US and China.”
At a pre-election rally on Sunday evening at a Washington sports arena, Trump hammered home his enthusiasm for saving the app, telling the crowd: “Frankly, we have no choice, we have to save it,” while indicating that there were a “lot of jobs” involved.
“We don’t want to give our business to China, we don’t want to give our business to other people,” Trump told his supporters.
The law allows for a 90-day delay of the ban if the White House can show progress toward a viable deal, but so far ByteDance has flatly refused any sale.
The Biden administration said it would leave enforcement of the law to Trump.
From teenage dancers to grandmothers sharing cooking tips, TikTok has been embraced for its ability to transform ordinary users into global celebrities when a video goes viral.
But it is also rife with disinformation, and its Chinese ownership has long spurred national security fears, internationally as well as in the United States.
Sunday’s blackout came after the US Supreme Court on Friday upheld the legislation banning it pending any sale.
Trump, who signed an executive order stepping up pressure on ByteDance to sell in 2020, has since credited the app with connecting him to younger voters.
It is unclear what the incoming president can do to lift the ban unless ByteDance ultimately sells, however.
“Congress wrote this law to be virtually president-proof,” warned Adam Kovacevich, chief executive of industry trade group Chamber of Progress.
Besides removing TikTok from app stores, the law requires Apple and Google to block new downloads, with the companies liable for penalties of up to $5,000 per user if the app is accessed.
Oracle, which hosts TikTok’s servers, would also be legally obligated to enforce the ban.
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Space exploration is the total future,the only question is how quickly it moves but any investment is a no brainer.
@Richard Sweeney: Talk us through this Richard, what have we got going on here?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/144468801@N05/32493875581/in/photostream
Don’t leave us hanging.
@Richard Sweeney: Fantastic pics Richard!
@Chief: hi chief. That’s my personal window on the universe.
@Good Early: Thank you. Always nice to get feedback.
@Richard Sweeney: Stunning pictures Richard
@Richard Sweeney: wow. Some piece of home equipment
@Richard Sweeney: I was enquiring about the green slide.
Fantastic setup. Brilliant photos.
Considering that most of Offaly is around 50 years back in time – this telescope should give some interesting results.
Jabba the hut biffo Cowan was a right space cadet, keeping up the tradition alright
These types of telescopes only suit theorists and their wild speculations whereas telescopes which show actual images of planets delight people of all ages. The future of astronomy is time lapse imaging which helps condense long term imaging into easily understood astronomical stories. As an example,the main discovery of Copernicus was that the faster moving Earth overtakes the slower moving outer planets thereby causing them to fall temporarily behind in view like a faster car in an inner lane overtaking slower moving cars in outer lanes -
Can it send the data over a dial up link?
I will argue aligning the original telescope with Satan was a retregrade step witch has impeded devevolment in Offaly….l cite Bord na Mona (basket case) Offaly hurlers/footballers and dare l say IT Seamus Darby….witch goes to prove The Suits are as thick as planks…..again abusive replies will not be countenanced…..
@Rachel Didleu: do you mean the Leviamthian connection Rachel, well spotted…
F*ck the rosses. Most hated family in Offaly
@Jack Ryan: no they’re not actually
have your say