Islamabad, Jan 18: TikTok is preparing to cease its operations in the United States on January 19, unless the Biden administration intervenes to prevent the shutdown. The company confirmed reports that it will be “forced to go dark” on that date unless it receives a “definitive statement” from the administration, assuring that its key service providers—such as Apple, Google, Amazon, and Oracle—won’t face legal repercussions. These companies play a critical role in TikTok’s availability through app distribution and hosting services.
In its statement, TikTok emphasized the urgency of a resolution, stating that unless the Biden administration provides the necessary assurances, TikTok will have no choice but to stop its operations in the U.S. The announcement follows a Supreme Court ruling that upheld a law requiring ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to divest its ownership stake in the app.
In light of the ruling, TikTok’s CEO, Shou Chew, urged President-elect Donald Trump for support in a video message but refrained from disclosing the specific actions the company plans to take once the law takes effect at midnight on January 20.
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TikTok’s future in the U.S. remains uncertain. The White House has indicated that Trump will decide the app’s fate. Trump has expressed his intention to protect TikTok and discussed it with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He will assume office on January 20, but uncertainty about the app continues.
The Department of Justice, responsible for enforcing the ban, has reaffirmed its commitment. The ban includes fines of $5,000 per user for U.S. service providers who allow access to the app. The situation is evolving, and many are waiting for government action to determine if TikTok will stay or shut down.
