TikTok said it will “go dark” in the United States on Sunday unless the government gives assurances that a newly upheld law will not be used to penalize the companies that keep the app running.
The Supreme Court ruled unanimously on Friday to uphold the law, which was backed by President Joe Biden and Congress. It requires TikTok’s parent, ByteDance, to sell its U.S. operations or stop operating by January 19. The court cited national security concerns over ByteDance’s data collection and its ties to China.
TikTok blamed the Biden administration and the Department of Justice for not giving service providers the clarity they need to keep the platform available to its 170 million U.S. users. ByteDance has refused to sell. Beijing, which has denounced the law as theft, shares that position.
A handoff to Trump
The Biden White House signaled it would not enforce the law and would leave the matter to incoming President Donald Trump. Even so, uncertainty remains. Trump opposes the ban. On Truth Social he said he respected the court’s decision but needed time to look at alternatives, and he spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday.
TikTok CEO Shou Chew thanked Trump for his willingness to seek a solution and will attend the inauguration on Monday. The company has lobbied hard to keep the law from taking effect.
What the law does
Apple and Google would have to pull TikTok from their app stores, which blocks new downloads. Penalties run up to $5,000 per user who can still reach the app. The Department of Justice suggested enforcement would be gradual, with no immediate action.
Frank McCourt, the former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, has said he would like to lead a purchase of TikTok’s U.S. operations and is willing to work with the company and Trump on a deal. Mike Waltz, the incoming National Security Advisor, indicated that the administration might ask for a 90-day delay to find a workable resolution.
A ban would help rivals such as Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. Many creators insist TikTok’s features and audience engagement are unmatched. Nathan Espinoza, an influencer with more than 500,000 followers, pointed to how simple it is to make content there compared with other platforms.
