Investing.com– TikTok, the widely popular short video platform, is preparing for a potential shutdown in the United States as early as this Sunday, The Information reported on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
The development follows heightened scrutiny and growing pressure from US lawmakers and regulators over concerns about data security and ties to the Chinese government.
The move will shut down TikTok for all users in the US unless the Supreme Court intervenes to block the ban, according to a report by The Information.
Under the plan, people who try to open the TikTok app will instead see a pop-up message directing them to a website with information about the ban, according to the report.
If implemented, it would reportedly go against a legal order that only limits new downloads of TikTok from Apple’s (NASDAQ: ) App Store (NASDAQ: ) and Alphabet (NASDAQ: ) Inc’s (NASDAQ: ) Google’s app stores, allowing existing users to continue accessing the app for a period of time . limited period, according to the report
The platform, owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance, has faced increasing challenges navigating the sensitive geopolitical landscape. Discussions about a potential nationwide ban have gathered pace in recent weeks, particularly after state restrictions against the app have already been implemented in certain jurisdictions, the report said.
Analysts suggest that such a ban could have broad economic implications, due to TikTok’s integral role in marketing strategies and the creative economy.
Given the growing popularity of the short video format, the ban could also prove beneficial for Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ: ) platforms like Facebook and Instagram, as well as Google’s YouTube platform.
