WASHINGTON/NEW YORK — TikTok is set to disable its app for U.S. users this Sunday unless a last-minute intervention prevents the federal ban, according to individuals familiar with the situation.
The ban, which affects the 170 million Americans who use the app, follows an April law requiring TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest from the platform.
Under the ban, Apple (AAPL.O) and Google (GOOGL.O) app stores would be prohibited from hosting TikTok for new downloads. Should the ban proceed, TikTok users opening the app will encounter a pop-up message redirecting them to a website with details about the situation, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“We go dark. Essentially, the platform shuts down,” TikTok attorney Noel Francisco stated during a Supreme Court session last week.
Preparing for a Shutdown
TikTok plans to allow users to download their personal data before the shutdown takes effect. The company has also argued in court that a ban would disrupt global operations, as U.S.-based service providers play a vital role in supporting the app worldwide.
To “avoid interruption of services for tens of millions of TikTok users outside the United States,” the company has requested a Supreme Court order to delay the ban. Without such action, TikTok warns, data centers and service providers may cease to support the app’s infrastructure, rendering it unusable.
Supreme Court’s Role
The Supreme Court is currently weighing its options: uphold the ban, overturn it, or pause its implementation to allow for further deliberation. Last week, the Court appeared inclined to enforce the law, which requires ByteDance to sell its U.S. assets by January 19.
Political and Operational Implications
TikTok has argued that the law violates First Amendment protections against government restrictions on free speech. The company estimates that a month-long ban could lead one-third of its U.S. users to abandon the platform entirely.
Although operations have continued normally leading up to the deadline, sources noted that TikTok is prepared to resume service quickly if the ban is lifted. The move to shut down aims to shield service providers from legal risks and streamline future reinstatement.
ByteDance and TikTok did not respond to requests for comment.
Broader Impact
TikTok’s potential ban marks a critical juncture for the platform, which employs over 7,000 people in the U.S. and is primarily owned by institutional investors such as BlackRock and General Atlantic.
The situation also poses a political challenge for President-elect Donald Trump, who has suggested issuing an executive order to save TikTok. Trump’s inauguration, scheduled the day after the law takes effect, may give him a narrow window to seek a resolution.
As TikTok and ByteDance continue to fight for a delay, the outcome may shape not only the future of the app but also broader debates around free speech, national security, and tech regulation. (With Reuters)