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TikTok said its services would shut down on Sunday without assurances from the Biden administration that it would not punish Apple, Google and other service providers if they support the application.
“Unless the Biden administration immediately provides a definitive statement to satisfy the most critical service providers guaranteeing non-implementation, unfortunately, TikTok will be forced to cease operations on January 19,” TikTok said in the statement on Friday.
The statement said TikTok’s US user base, which the company claims is over 170 million, will not be able to use the service when they open the app or website on Sunday.
TikTok released a statement after The Supreme Court ruled unanimously on Friday support legislation requiring service providers to no longer support its app within the US if parent company ByteDance fails to execute a “qualified takedown” of the app by Sunday. As a result, Apple, Google and Oracle they could face severe penalties if they fail to comply with the law.
“Today’s statements from the Biden White House and the Department of Justice did not provide the necessary clarity and assurance to service providers who are integral to keeping TikTok available to more than 170 million Americans,” TikTok said in a statement.
However, Biden’s term ends on Monday, when he is elected president Donald Trump begins his second term in the White House. Trump, who previously supported a ban on TikTok, later backed down on the issue. In December, Trump asked The Supreme Court yes pause the implementation of the law and allow his administration “an opportunity to seek a political solution to the issues in the case.”
In a post Friday 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 to have time to review the situation. Stay tuned!”
Earlier on Friday, the Biden administration issued a statement saying that TikTok “should remain available to Americans, but simply American-owned.”
“Given the very fact of the timeline, this Administration understands that law enforcement actions simply must fall to the next Administration, which takes office on Monday,” the statement said.
Attorney General Merrick Garland and Lisa Monaco, his deputy, said ua rid that the ruling “enables the Justice Department to prevent the Chinese government from weaponizing TikTok to undermine US national security.”
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