TikTok is preparing for a potential shutdown in the United States on January 19, according to a report by The Information, as cited by Sputnik/RIA Novosti. The shutdown is linked to the ongoing U.S. ban on the Chinese social media platform, which is set to take effect on Sunday.
The platform, which boasts over 170 million American users, will implement an immediate blackout rather than allowing existing users continued access, as had been expected, according to sources who spoke to The Information.
TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, has been under mounting pressure since April 2024, when U.S. President Joe Biden signed a law mandating the company to transfer ownership of TikTok to an American entity. The shutdown follows the January 19 legislative deadline for TikTok to sever ties with its Chinese parent company, or cease U.S. operations altogether.
While the law only requires app stores to remove TikTok and cloud providers to stop hosting U.S. user data, TikTok has decided to opt for a full suspension of service, according to The Information.
Users attempting to access the app after the deadline will be redirected to a statement explaining the federally mandated ban, alongside options to download their personal data, the report added.
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ByteDance has refused to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations, but analysts suggest that the company’s stance may change as the reality of a forced market exit approaches.
In the midst of these developments, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court, seeking to delay the ban until his inauguration on January 20. A document obtained by Sputnik/RIA Novosti revealed Trump’s efforts to halt the implementation of the ban.
Since its launch in 2018, TikTok has been under scrutiny from U.S. authorities over allegations of sharing user data with the Chinese government and spreading propaganda. Despite TikTok’s repeated denials of these claims, the platform continues to face intense pressure.
The company has also challenged the law on First Amendment grounds, which protect freedom of speech.
In an internal e-mail obtained by The Verge on January 14, TikTok reassured its U.S. employees that their employment, pay, and benefits are secure, and that offices will remain open even if the situation remains unresolved by the January 19 deadline. The company noted it was “planning for various scenarios.”
As the deadline approaches, the fate of TikTok’s U.S. operations hangs in the balance, with both legal and political battles continuing to unfold.