TikTok has warned it may go dark in the United States by January 19 unless the Biden administration assures that companies like Apple and Google won’t face enforcement actions after a ban takes effect.
This follows the Supreme Court’s 9-0 decision to uphold a law requiring TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest from the platform over national security concerns.
The Supreme Court cited TikTok’s potential for “foreign adversary control” and its collection of sensitive data as justification for the ban, which affects 170 million American users. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew plans to attend Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 22, amid speculation that the former president might intervene to save the app.
Lawmakers and Biden’s administration argue that China could exploit TikTok for espionage and data collection. Despite this, public backlash has been strong, with creators like Houston-based Lourd Asprec, who earns $80,000 annually from TikTok, expressing disbelief. “I don’t care about China stealing my data. They can have it all,” Asprec said.
The Biden administration has emphasized that TikTok can continue operating if ByteDance relinquishes control. However, ByteDance has yet to secure a buyer, leaving the platform’s fate uncertain. Potential interventions, including Trump invoking emergency powers, could allow TikTok’s continued operation under new terms.
Apple and Google, which face potential penalties for offering TikTok after the ban, declined to comment. As millions of users seek alternatives, such as RedNote, experts warn of Beijing’s broader ambitions in shaping global narratives through digital platforms.
While the White House has refrained from delaying the ban’s enforcement, the ultimate decision rests with the incoming administration.
