Judge blocks US TikTok download ban

Last night, a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s ban on TikTok just hours before it was going to take effect.

With this preliminary injunction, the social video app TikTok continues to be available on app stores. However, this decision by judge Carl Nichols does not put a hold for the executive order that should take effect on November 12.

“We’re pleased that the court agreed with our legal arguments and issued an injunction preventing the implementation of the TikTok app ban,” a TikTok spokesman said last night. “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.”

Though TikTok has made a deal with American companies Oracle and Walmart, there is still a disagreement about how much of the newly-formed TikTok Global each company will own. Initially, it seemed like ByteDance was going to maintain 80% of the new company, with 12% for Oracle and 8% for Walmart. Trump wants both American companies to have total control of TikTok Global. However, the Chinese government is unhappy with the deal.

[Source]: The New York Times: TikTok Wins Reprieve From U.S. Ban.