FILE — TikTok says it will go dark on Sunday if the U.S. government does not intervene. (TikTok)
TikTok will reportedly turn off more than 170 million Americans’ access to the popular video app on Sunday.
The company announced on Friday that this was its plan unless President Joe Biden’s administration acts urgently to ensure it will not be punished for violating the terms of the upcoming ban.
“Unless the Biden Administration immediately provides a definitive statement to satisfy the most critical service providers assuring non-enforcement, unfortunately, TikTok will be forced to go dark on Jan. 19,” the company said in a statement.
Earlier on Friday, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the federal law banning Tiktok beginning Sunday unless it’s sold by its China-based parent company, holding that the risk to national security posed by its ties to China overcomes concerns about limiting speech, The Associated Press reported.
“The statements issued today by both the Biden White House and the Department of Justice have failed to provide the necessary clarity and assurance to the service providers that are integral to maintaining TikTok’s availability to over 170 million Americans,” the company’s statement said.
Multiple outlets have reported that President-elect Donald Trump has suggested that he will not enforce the ban and that he previously asked the Supreme Court to stay on the bill so his incoming administration could work out a deal.
CNN reports that TikTok could turn itself off on Sunday and possibly turn itself back on at a later date if Trump gives the company assurances it will go unpunished for violating the ban.