TikTok Threatens US Shutdown

TikTok has announced the possibility of halting its operations in the United States following the Supreme Court's decision to uphold a federal ban on the app unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, transfers ownership to an American entity.

The company expressed concerns over a lack of clarity and assurances from the Biden administration regarding the situation.

TikTok stated that without immediate action from US authorities to address key operational challenges, the platform may have to cease operations by January 19.

This development follows the Supreme Court's unanimous decision affirming that national security risks linked to ByteDance's Chinese ownership outweigh user and corporate interests.

The court ruling enables the implementation of a federal ban on TikTok starting Sunday, affecting new downloads and updates, although existing users will retain access to the app temporarily.

Experts suggest that over time, without updates or new users, the app could become non-functional.

The Justice Department emphasized that the restrictions aim to protect national security, which outweighs potential disruptions to user access or corporate interests.

The Biden administration has also stressed that TikTok must remain available only under ownership that mitigates these security concerns.