April 29, 2024

US Bans TikTok! League of Legends and Fortnite May Be Next.

TikTok has been around for a couple of years now, and it has become one of the biggest apps in the world, gathering millions of users and billions of video posts. However, the United States recently banned TikTok, raising the possibility that the gaming industry could follow suit. The ban targeted the app specifically due to its ties to China, and Tencent, the largest Chinese conglomerate, is involved with a lot of companies in the gaming world, including Riot Games, the developer of League of Legends, and Epic Games, known for Fortnite.

While the US government's actions against TikTok stem from concerns about national security due to its ownership by Chinese company ByteDance and aim at boosting the safety of the country’s population, there is a lot of speculation going around about whether there will be new laws extending this ban to other platforms with Chinese connections, including League of Legends.

Poppy Ban Hammer

Legal challenges and uncertainties surrounding the constitutionality of such measures complicate the situation, especially given the current dynamics of the Supreme Court. Additionally, the legislation targeting TikTok appears to contradict the principles of a free market economy, as it singles out specific companies and services for regulation based on ownership and origin, which would be aggravated if a ban were issued for League of Legends or Epic Games.

As discussions continue and legal battles unfold, TikTok's fate and the potential implications for other companies like Riot Games and Epic remain uncertain.

While the law specifically targets TikTok, its broad language and presidential discretion could extend its application to other companies with similar characteristics.

The law's provisions could force any company meeting certain criteria, such as owning a platform with a large user base and having significant ties to a foreign adversary country, to cease their activity in the US. If the US decides to boost this law and apply it to other companies, League of Legends and Fortnite would be the most likely targets for the next ban wave.

The implications are huge, as the law effectively grants the president the authority to determine the fate of these companies based on national security concerns. This level of discretion raises questions about fairness and due process, particularly for businesses that have invested resources in building successful enterprises.

While the notion of the government banning popular games may seem far-fetched, recent events surrounding TikTok demonstrate the potential for seemingly unlikely scenarios to become reality.

While the developers of League of Legends and other online games like Fortnite have not yet publicly expressed significant concern, they are undoubtedly watching these developments closely.

Fortnite

Companies like Epic Games and Riot Games, among others with ties to Tencent, are potentially vulnerable to the law's provisions. However, Tencent's ownership stakes in various developers and the precedent-setting actions in other countries, like India's ban on PUBG Mobile, underscore the potential risks facing the industry, extending beyond these companies.

While the idea of the government banning games may seem improbable, recent legislative actions have shown that nothing is impossible. As the situation unfolds, the gaming industry will be watching closely and preparing for the possibility of government intervention.

Only time will tell whether or not the gaming industry and League of Legends will face bans as well.

 

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