TikTok has warned that it will “go dark” in the US on Sunday unless the government intervenes. The company stated that the Biden administration and the Department of Justice have not given the necessary clarity to service providers.
Supreme Court Ruling
This comes after the Supreme Court upheld a law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok by Sunday. TikTok argued that the law violates free speech for its 170 million US users. If no buyer is found, TikTok will be removed from app stores and web hosting services.
Impact on Existing Users
Initially, it was believed that the ban wouldn’t affect users who already have the app. However, TikTok’s recent statement suggests that the app may also become unavailable to current users.
Political Context
As President Biden’s term ends, Donald Trump will take office. The White House stated that the new president would need to enforce the law. Although Trump initially supported the ban, he now opposes it. He said, “My decision on TikTok will be made in the not too distant future, but I must have time to review the situation.”
ByteDance’s Position
ByteDance has refused to sell TikTok and plans to shut down its US operations by Sunday unless the law changes. The US government imposed the ban over concerns about TikTok’s connection to China. However, TikTok has consistently denied sharing user data with Beijing.
