TikTok Faces US Shutdown Amid Supreme Court Ruling and Looming Ban

TDT | Manama

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TikTok has warned it will be forced to cease operations in the United States on Sunday unless the government intervenes to prevent a ban set to take effect.

In a statement released late Friday, the video-sharing platform criticized the White House and the Department of Justice for failing to provide clarity or assurances needed to maintain its availability. TikTok stated it would be "forced to go dark on January 19" unless immediate action is taken to ensure it would not be penalized under the ban.

This announcement follows a Supreme Court decision earlier on Friday upholding a law that requires TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the platform's US operations to a neutral party by Sunday to avoid an outright ban.

The law, passed in April 2024, mandates ByteDance to divest TikTok’s US operations to address national security concerns about the app’s ties to the Chinese government. TikTok has challenged the legislation, arguing it infringes on free speech rights for its 170 million American users. However, the Supreme Court's ruling means the app will be removed from app stores and web hosting services if a buyer is not secured.

Previously, it was believed that the ban would not affect users who had already downloaded TikTok. However, the app would gradually degrade without updates, rendering it unusable over time. TikTok’s latest statement suggests the shutdown could immediately impact all users, including those who already have the app installed.

As the deadline approaches, TikTok creators and influencers have begun posting farewell messages to their followers. Content creator Nicole Bloomgarden told the BBC that losing access to TikTok would significantly impact her income, while Erika Thompson highlighted the loss of educational content on the platform as a major setback for the community.

Some users are directing their audiences to alternative platforms, including Red Note, a Chinese video app that has seen limited use among Americans until now.

The ban's implementation coincides with a change in leadership at the White House. President Joe Biden’s term ends Monday, with President-elect Donald Trump set to be sworn in the same day. While Biden has left the enforcement of the law to his successor, Trump has expressed opposition to the ban despite initially supporting it.

"My decision on TikTok will be made in the not-too-distant future, but I must have time to review the situation," Trump said Friday, noting he had discussed the matter with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In December, Trump called TikTok a tool that helped him connect with younger voters during the 2024 election, signaling a shift from his earlier stance in his first term when he sought to ban the app via executive order.

ByteDance has vowed not to sell TikTok, instead planning to shut down its US operations unless the government grants a reprieve. The company has consistently denied allegations of sharing user data with Beijing, despite bipartisan concerns that led to the ban's passage.

As the Sunday deadline looms, the future of TikTok in the US hangs in the balance, leaving millions of users and creators uncertain about the platform's fate.