In a dramatic turn of events, TikTok is said to be getting ready to shut down all its operations in the United States if an oncoming ban indeed kicks in this Sunday. According to The Information, Reuters, and other media outlets, the popular video-sharing service would sooner shut down completely than allow existing users to continue accessing the service.
Under the ban, it would still technically allow current TikTok users to use the app, but over time, it would become inoperable, as app stores and internet hosting services would no longer be able to provide updates. If this ban goes through as expected, users will see a notice of the ban and ways to download their data. TikTok has not commented on the incident so far, following requests by Al Jazeera.
The move comes months after outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden signed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act in April, which allowed the Chinese-owned ByteDance Ltd. 270 days to sell off the social-media platform facing a ban. The bipartisan legislation arrived amid growing concerns over the ability of the app to collect personal data on Americans and influence public opinion.
In related news, there are reports that President-elect Donald Trump may issue an executive order that temporarily lifts the ban for a period of 60 to 90 days to give some time for a potential negotiation of sale or other alternatives. Trump talked about “saving” the platform during his re-election campaign even though he earlier called for the app to be banned during his first term in office.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court is considering the constitutionality of the ban. Recent signals are that a majority of justices might be skeptical of TikTok’s argument that the ban infringes on Americans’ free speech rights-a further question mark over the future of the platform in the U.S.
