TikTok says it will go dark on Sunday unless Biden intervenes

TikTok said its services will be blacked out on Sunday without assurances that it won’t be penalized by the Biden administration. the apple, google and if other service providers support the application.

“If the Highway Administration does not immediately issue a definitive statement to satisfy the most critical service providers ensuring enforcement, TikTok will unfortunately be forced to go dark on January 19,” TikTok said. in a statement on friday

The statement indicates that TikTok’s American user base, which the company says has more than 170 million, will not be able to use the service when they open the app or website on Sunday.

TikTok later issued a statement The Supreme Court ruled unanimously on Friday upholding a law requiring service providers not to support its app in the US unless parent company ByteDance makes a “qualified divestment” of the app by Sunday. As a result, Apple, Google and the oracle They can face severe penalties if they don’t follow the law.

“The statements issued today by the Biden White House and the Department of Justice have not provided the necessary clarity and certainty to service providers who are critical to maintaining the availability of TikTok to more than 170 million Americans,” TikTok said in its statement.

However, Biden’s term will end on Monday, when the president is elected Donald Trump begins his second term in the White House. Trump, who previously supported the TikTok ban, later reversed course. In December, Trump he asked to the Supreme Court suspend the implementation of the law and gives his administration “an opportunity to obtain a political settlement of the questions at issue in the case.”

In a Friday post on his social media app Truth Social, Trump wrote: “My decision on TikTok will be made in the not too distant future, but I need time to review the situation. Stay tuned!”

Earlier on Friday, the Biden administration gave a statement TikTok “should be available to Americans, but only under American ownership.”

“Given the timing, this Administration recognizes that actions to implement the law must be left to the next Administration, which will take office on Monday,” the statement said.

Attorney General Merrick Garland and Lisa Monaco, his deputy, said a let go that decision “allows the Justice Department to prevent the Chinese government from weaponizing TikTok to undermine America’s national security.”

SEE: We’re the only TikTok provider that meets SCOTUS’ criteria, says Frank McCourt