President Trump will reverse the TikTok ban within hours of being sworn in as President of the United States, as he promises to find a solution for the 170 million TikTok users in the United States (US). The US ban officially came into force at midnight on 19 January 2025.

The US, and President Trump’s ‘new best friend’ Elon Musk, know a lot about the power of social media, but can we really expect TikTok to sell to a US company? The US played a game of chicken with TikTok and it didn’t flinch – shutting its US site down, rather than handing over control. With the potential of a foreign adversary having access to its population, and the mass market data TikTok controls, the US would prefer to trust one of its own with such power.

Social media is a powerful tool for influencing its users, and it is clear that the US would prefer to keep control of its influencers rather than allow the Chinese to wield such influence. The TikTok ban has highlighted a much bigger issue, which is the power of social media and mass market data sets. Can we trust social media platforms with such data, irrespective of where they are based? The need for proper regulation and governance is clear and this must be addressed. Even in the land of the free, who is guarding the gatekeepers?

AUTHORS

John Kelly Consultant

John is a reputation and brand protection lawyer with over 30 years’ experience in media and information law.

John is a reputation and brand protection lawyer with over 30 years’ experience in media and information law.

John is one of the leading lawyers in all aspects of media and information law and is actively involved at the forefront of this field.

John’s work is international and he advises clients all over the world including in the UK, US and the Middle East. He acts for A-list clients in the entertainment industry, music and sport. He also represents UHNW clients and corporate clients.

He has represented a host of well-known clients including the First Lady of the United States Melania Trump, Angelina Jolie, Madonna, Nicole Kidman, Steve Coogan, and Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne. John has developed Personal Protection Principles which are used to protect clients' reputations, their family and their security.

John is a sought after speaker on reputation protection and personal protection rights both in the UK, and internationally including in the US, Middle East and Australia. John is recognised as a ‘Leading Lawyer’ in Chambers UK, The Legal 500, Chambers High Net Worth and Spear's Magazine and has been named ‘Reputation Protection Lawyer of the Year’ by Spear's.