US attorney general Pam Bondi has let a bunch of tech giants—Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Google—off the hook for helping TikTok, even with a federal ban in place. The letters just came out, and it’s clear these companies won’t face any heat for supporting the app. Here’s what this really means: despite the media spinning it as a big deal, these companies are adept at sidestepping regulations when the winds shift.
Trump ordered Bondi to ignore a law passed last year branding TikTok a national security risk due to its Chinese connections. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this circus. Bans aren’t worth much if enforcement is shaky, especially when political interests are at play. TikTok can wriggle out of the ban by cutting down on Chinese ownership in its US arm. Trump calls these negotiations ongoing, but legal experts are skeptical about the legality of his delay tactics. If I had a dollar for every time a political maneuver bought more time for a deal, I’d have another yacht.
TikTok vanished from US app stores earlier this year but reappeared after 26 days. Bondi had assured Apple and Google they wouldn’t face prosecution, though the letters confirming this only surfaced recently. Tony Tan, a Silicon Valley engineer, dug up these documents through a Freedom of Information Act request. Initially, the Department of Justice claimed ignorance, but a lawsuit forced their hand.
The Justice Department hasn’t commented, and that’s no surprise. Silence speaks volumes. The letters, dated January 30, were sent to Microsoft, Google, Apple, and Fastly, essentially giving them a free pass. Bondi took over in February and continued this non-enforcement trend. Microsoft, Amazon, Digital Realty, T-Mobile, and others got similar assurances in March. In April, Trump extended TikTok’s sale window, and more letters followed. The “irrevocably relinquishing” language was a recurring theme, except for a few exceptions.
Microsoft and the other companies are tight-lipped, probably hoping this stays low-key. Tan filed a lawsuit against Google’s parent, Alphabet, for not disclosing its TikTok dealings. He’s concerned that Bondi’s promises might not hold water if the political tide turns. If Google’s found guilty, fines could be astronomical. But here’s the thing: these companies have deep pockets and even deeper networks. They’ll find a way to play the game, because they’ve been doing it for years. Tech giants have navigated regulatory storms before, and this situation isn’t all that different.
