TikTok is gearing up to shut off access to its app for U.S. users on Sunday, pending the Supreme Court’s decision to block a federal ban. The law, set to take effect, primarily targets new downloads on Apple and Google app stores, allowing current users to continue accessing the platform for now. However, TikTok’s contingency plan includes disabling the app entirely, with a pop-up message guiding users to a website explaining the ban. Users will also have the option to download their data as a safeguard.
The ban stems from legislation signed by President Joe Biden in April 2024, mandating TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell its U.S. assets by January 19, 2025, or face a nationwide ban. ByteDance has challenged the law, arguing it infringes on First Amendment rights by restricting free speech. TikTok recently revealed in court filings that a month-long ban could result in losing one-third of its 170 million American users.
Efforts to delay the law’s enforcement are ongoing, but TikTok’s future in the U.S. remains uncertain. With the federal government citing national security concerns, the company’s next steps could set significant legal and technological precedents. ByteDance and TikTok have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding these developments.