By: Bayero Ade
Social media platform TikTok has announced plans to fully shut down its operations in the United States this Sunday if a government-imposed ban is enacted as scheduled.
According to PUNCH, the app, which serves over 170 million American users, is preparing for a total blackout rather than continuing operations for existing users. This decision aligns with a January 19 deadline that mandates TikTok to either sever ties with its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or cease its US operations entirely.
Although the legislation primarily requires app stores to remove TikTok and cloud providers to halt hosting US user data, reports indicate that TikTok plans to suspend all services. Users attempting to access the app after the deadline will reportedly see a notification explaining the ban and providing instructions for downloading their personal data.
This move comes after oral arguments before the Supreme Court last Friday, where justices expressed skepticism about TikTok’s legal challenge to the ban. The company has argued that the ban violates First Amendment rights, as it restricts freedom of speech.
The shutdown coincides with the upcoming transition of political power, as former President Donald Trump, an outspoken critic of the ban, prepares to re-enter office on Monday.
So far, ByteDance has resisted selling TikTok’s US operations. However, analysts suggest this stance might change as the deadline nears and the possibility of a forced exit becomes imminent.
In an internal memo obtained by The Verge, TikTok reassured its US employees that their “employment, pay, and benefits remain secure,” even in the event of a shutdown. The company also emphasized that its offices would remain open while it plans for various possible outcomes.
With the deadline fast approaching, the future of TikTok in the United States remains uncertain, leaving millions of users and employees anxiously awaiting further developments.
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