TikTok Plans Full Shutdown in U.S. as Ban Deadline Approaches, Reports Suggest
The video-sharing platform is reportedly preparing to go offline in the U.S. from Sunday amid the looming ban.
TikTok is reportedly preparing to shut down completely in the United States if a scheduled ban takes effect this Sunday, according to multiple media outlets.
The widely popular video-sharing app is making plans to cease all operations, rather than simply allowing existing users to continue using the service, The Information and Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the situation.
Under the terms of the impending b
an, users would still be legally allowed to access the app, but it would become increasingly unusable as app stores and internet hosting services are prohibited from offering updates. If the ban is not delayed, users would be greeted with a message directing them to a statement about the shutdown, along with instructions on how to download their personal data, the reports indicated.
TikTok has not yet responded to a request for comment on the matter from Al Jazeera.
In April, outgoing President Joe Biden signed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, giving Chinese parent company ByteDance 270 days to sell TikTok or face a ban in the U.S. The legislation was introduced amid bipartisan concerns that the platform could be used to collect Americans' personal data and potentially influence public opinion.
The Washington Post also reported on Wednesday that President-elect Donald Trump is considering issuing an executive order to suspend the ban for up to 90 days to allow time for negotiations on a potential sale or alternative arrangement. During his re-election campaign, Trump pledged to “save” TikTok, despite seeking to ban the app during his first term.
The news comes as the U.S. Supreme Court is deliberating the constitutionality of the ban. The court’s nine justices appear inclined to uphold the law after a majority expressed skepticism last week about TikTok’s argument that the ban infringes on Americans' free speech rights.