TikTok, the popular video-sharing platform, faces a potential shutdown in the United States on Sunday, January 19, unless the government offers clear assurances to service providers regarding their liability under a new federal law banning the app.
The US Supreme Court on Friday upheld the federal law, clearing the way for a nationwide TikTok ban. However, uncertainty remains about how the shutdown will unfold.
Saif Ali Khan Health Update
Here’s what we know so far:
TikTok to ‘go dark’
TikTok announced that it will “go dark” in the US unless the Biden administration provides a definitive statement ensuring that service providers will not face penalties for violating the law.
The company’s statement read: “Unless the Biden Administration immediately provides a definitive statement to satisfy the most critical service providers assuring non-enforcement, unfortunately, TikTok will be forced to go dark on January 19.”
What will happen to TikTok on Apple and Google’s app store?
Apple and Google, which operate major mobile app stores, are expected to remove TikTok from their platforms if the ban proceeds.
Under the new law, these companies, along with internet hosting services, could face fines of up to $5,000 per user for continuing to provide access to TikTok after the divestment deadline for ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based parent company.
Existing TikTok users may retain access to the app, but updates will no longer be available, potentially rendering it unusable over time.
‘Incoming administration’s responsibility to enforce ban’
President Joe Biden’s administration has said that it will not enforce the law starting Sunday. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre clarified that the responsibility for implementing the ban will fall to the incoming administration.
In her statement, Jean-Pierre said, “The administration, like the rest of the country, has awaited the decision just made by the US Supreme Court on the TikTok matter. President Biden’s position on TikTok has been clear for months: TikTok should remain available to Americans but under American ownership or ownership that addresses the national security concerns identified by Congress.”
Possible sale of TikTok
While ByteDance has resisted selling TikTok, the deadline has reignited interest among potential buyers. Wedbush analyst Dan Ives estimates TikTok’s value at over $100 billion, potentially reaching $200 billion if its algorithm is included in a sale.
Several parties, including billionaire Frank McCourt and investor Kevin O’Leary, have expressed interest. However, experts believe the Chinese government is unlikely to approve any sale involving TikTok’s coveted algorithm.
Legal challenges
TikTok, which merged with Musical.ly in 2017, has grown from a niche teen app to a global cultural phenomenon. However, US officials have raised national security concerns, leading to bipartisan legislation signed by President Biden in April 2024. The law requires ByteDance to divest TikTok’s US operations or face a shutdown.
In response, ByteDance has filed a lawsuit against the US government, arguing that the law violates the First Amendment and that the national security concerns are exaggerated.
