TikTok ban on April 5? Here’s why app’s future is still unclear

The future of TikTok in the United States remains uncertain as the April 5 deadline for a potential ban approaches. The short-video app, owned by Chinese tech company ByteDance, has been at the center of national security concerns for years. Initially targeted for a ban by former President Donald Trump in 2020, the app has faced increasing scrutiny from lawmakers, citing worries over potential data privacy risks and alleged ties to the Chinese government.

In April 2024, the US Congress passed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok to a US-based entity or face a nationwide ban.