TikTok has stated that it will be forced to “go dark” in the United States on Sunday unless the government intervenes before a ban takes effect, BBC reports.
On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the law that could lead to TikTok being banned within days over national security concerns.
President elect Donald Trump stated that he will review the issue and make a new deal with the Chinese company.
The China-based parent company, ByteDance, has the option to sell the platform by Sunday. The company stated that it has no links with the Beijing government and denied espionage allegations.
Cybersecurity firms have suggested that the app is capable of collecting users’ data beyond what they look at on TikTok.
In a statement late on Friday, TikTok said the White House and the Department of Justice had “failed to provide the necessary clarity and assurance to the service providers that are integral to maintaining TikTok’s availability”.
It said that unless the government immediately stepped in to assure the video app it would not be punished for violating the looming ban, it would be “forced to go dark on January 19”.
A law passed in April says that ByteDance must sell the U.S .version of the platform to a neutral party to avert an outright ban.
On January 10, lawyers representing TikTok challenged the law at the Supreme Court, arguing it violates free speech protections for its 170 million users in the country.
But the Supreme Court’s ruling means the U.S. version of the app will be removed from app stores and web hosting services unless a buyer is found until January 19.
It seems that the ban will not affect U.S. users who already have the app downloaded on their phones. However, once the ban comes into effect the app would eventually degrade and become unusable over time.
TikTok’s fresh statement on Friday, however, suggests it may immediately become unavailable to all existing users as well as those seeking to download it.
Meanwhile, influencers and content creators have been posting videos on TikTok bidding farewell to their followers ahead of the impending ban.
On December 27, President elect Donald Trump, who will be inaugurated on Monday, asked the Supreme Court to delay the upcoming ban while he works on a “political resolution”.
President Joe Biden’s term is due to end on Monday, when Donald Trump will be sworn in as the next president. The White House earlier said it would therefore fall on the incoming president to enforce the law.
Even though Trump was initially against the ban, he said he needs time to review the situation. “My decision on TikTok will be made in the not too distant future, but I must have time to review the situation,” he said on Friday.
Trump also revealed that he has spoken to China’s President Xi Jinping and discussed TikTok, among other issues.
“Ultimately it’s up to me, so you’ll see what I do,” Trump said in an interview with CNN. “Congress gives me the authority, so I’ll make the decision,” he added, according to Reuters.
Meanwhile, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will be a guest of Donald Trump at his inauguration, The Washington Post reports.
