TikTok will shut down operations of its social media platform in the United States on Sunday in compliance with a federal ban.
In April 2024, President Joe Biden signed a law forcing ByteDance, a Chinese-based parent company, to sell TikTok to a non-Chinese based company or be banned in the U.S. ByteDance sued and attempted to delay implementation by saying the law violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
In a court filing in December, TikTok said an estimated 1/3 of 170 million American users will cease access of the social media platform if the ban lasts for a month, as reported by Reuters.
President-elect Donald Trump will consider an executive order to suspend the banishment of TikTok for 60 to 90 days after he takes office January 20.
An official with The White House told Reuters that Biden does not plan to intervene in his final days in office if the Supreme Court did not act on the legislation he signed. However, the Court made a final decision today to uphold the ban.
On Wednesday, a U.S. Senate vote by Sen. Ed Markey, who requested a unanimous vote, was intended to extend the deadline of the ban by 270 days. Republican Sen. Tom Cotton blocked the extension.
If the ban is successful, on Sunday, American users who attempt to open TikTok will receive a pop-up message that will direct them to a website with information about the legislation.
“We go dark. Essentially, the platform shuts down,” TikTok lawyer Noel Francisco told the Supreme Court last week.
According to Reuters‘ sources, ByteDance will allow users to download data of their personal information for their records.
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Rebecca Barnabi
