TikTok has warned it will be forced to shut down in the United States unless the Biden administration provides assurances to companies like Apple and Google that they will not face enforcement actions when a ban on the platform takes effect. The warning comes after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a law banning TikTok over national security concerns, placing the popular app’s 170 million American users in uncertainty.
In a 9-0 ruling, the Supreme Court affirmed the law, which mandates that TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, must sell the platform or face a ban. The law, passed by Congress with bipartisan support and signed by President Joe Biden, gives ByteDance a tight deadline to divest its ownership, which has not been met.
TikTok announced that it would be forced to “go dark” on January 19 unless the Biden administration immediately clarifies that it will not take enforcement actions against service providers like Apple, Google, Oracle, and others that continue to support the app post-ban. These companies risk massive fines if they defy the ban.
TikTok has long been embroiled in controversy over its Chinese ownership, which has raised national security concerns. U.S. leaders argue that China could use the platform to gather sensitive data on American citizens for espionage or other purposes. The Supreme Court’s ruling cited the platform’s vast data collection and its vulnerability to foreign control as justification for treating TikTok differently from other social media platforms.
The law, which Biden signed in 2024, has sparked growing opposition. Many of the same politicians who voted in favor of the ban are now calling for TikTok to remain operational in the U.S., fearing the potential loss of a popular platform, especially among young users and small businesses.
While ByteDance has made limited progress toward selling TikTok, the app’s potential shutdown may not be permanent. Former President Donald Trump, who attempted to ban TikTok in 2020, has indicated plans to save the app if he returns to office. In a social media post, Trump said he would review the situation and make a decision soon. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is expected to attend Trump’s second inauguration, and Trump has said he discussed TikTok with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a phone call.
As the deadline approaches, the Biden administration has emphasized that TikTok could continue operating in the U.S. if ByteDance relinquishes control. However, the White House has stated that the issue will be left for the next president to address. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said implementing the law would be a process for the incoming administration.
In the meantime, no new buyers have emerged to purchase TikTok, although Frank McCourt, the former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, has expressed interest in acquiring the platform, estimating its worth at $20 billion without its algorithm.