TikTok warned that it will shut down in the United States on Sunday [Tomorrow] unless President Joe Biden’s administration assures companies like Apple and Google that they won’t face penalties when a ban on the app takes effect.
The warning came after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a law that could ban TikTok due to national security concerns. This law requires TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app. If not, TikTok could be blocked in the U.S. in just two days.
The court’s decision puts TikTok, with 170 million users in the U.S., in a difficult position.
The company said that without immediate assurance from the Biden administration, it will be forced to go offline on January 19.
Apple, Google, Oracle, and other tech companies could face heavy fines if they continue providing services to TikTok after the ban.
The law was passed with broad bipartisan support last year and signed by Biden. However, some lawmakers are now pushing to keep TikTok operating in the U.S.
TikTok, ByteDance, and some app users challenged the law, arguing it violates the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment. However, the Supreme Court ruled that the law does not infringe on free speech rights.
ByteDance has not made significant progress in selling TikTok by the January 19 deadline. However, former President Donald Trump, who previously tried to ban TikTok in 2020, has said he intends to take action to save the app.
Trump has also mentioned that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed TikTok in a recent phone call. Trump is expected to decide TikTok’s future soon.
The issue stems from concerns about China’s control over TikTok and its ability to collect sensitive data from U.S. users, which lawmakers fear could be used for espionage or other harmful purposes.
Some TikTok users are shocked by the possibility of the app being banned. Many use TikTok for personal content or small businesses and are worried about losing their platform.
TikTok’s algorithm, which customizes video recommendations for users, is one of the app’s biggest assets. As the January 19 deadline approaches, some users are exploring other Chinese-owned apps, like RedNote, despite the challenges of navigating a Mandarin-language interface.
TikTok’s shutdown could be brief if a new buyer emerges or if Trump uses the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to keep the app running. However, no formal deal has been reached yet.
The Biden administration has emphasized that TikTok could remain active if it is no longer under Chinese control. But with the law going into effect, the situation remains uncertain.
The law bans services to foreign apps like TikTok unless they are no longer linked to adversary nations like China. The Biden administration has not yet acted to delay the deadline, but has stated that any further actions should be handled by the next president.
TikTok’s future in the U.S. is now in limbo, and it remains to be seen whether the app can avoid being shut down.
