1. Trump's declared "delay" is executive overreach and arguably unconstitutional, especially considering how the law[0] is explicit and even contains its own provision for a time-extension that TikTok has refused to exercise.
2. If you break a black-letter law because Trump suggested he'd somehow prevent the government from ever prosecuting you... Well, you're handing a crook a weapon he can use to extort you for favors later. Bad idea.
3. The PR cost of removing the app has already happened, it makes no sense to bring it back and then get dinged a second time removing it 75-or-whatever days later.
[0] Whether that particular law itself should have been ruled unconstitutional is a separate debate.
Unlike TikTok, Apple has no monetary incentive to break the law. There is no upside for them.
Apple makes an insignificant amount of revenue from TikTok. It isn’t much of an in-app purchase machine, and they had no qualms about banning a huge one like Fortnite over a much less legally binding issue.
The question is: Can Tiktok sue for damages. But given your calculations, Tiktok damages will be far lower than getting fined by the state. Maybe the lawyers did their math.
Apple is complying with the intent and letter of the law of the land, passed by Congress, signed by the President, upheld in legality by the Supreme Court. I don't see how Apple has any liability to Tiktok here.
Also, doesn't this only prevent new users from downloading the app? And maybe existing ones from updating it. Everyone who would be up in arms can continue using it, those excluded already don't (yet) know what the fuss is about.
1. Trump's declared "delay" is executive overreach and arguably unconstitutional, especially considering how the law[0] is explicit and even contains its own provision for a time-extension that TikTok has refused to exercise.
2. If you break a black-letter law because Trump suggested he'd somehow prevent the government from ever prosecuting you... Well, you're handing a crook a weapon he can use to extort you for favors later. Bad idea.
3. The PR cost of removing the app has already happened, it makes no sense to bring it back and then get dinged a second time removing it 75-or-whatever days later.
[0] Whether that particular law itself should have been ruled unconstitutional is a separate debate.