TikTok announced on Friday that it would disable access to its app for more than 170 million American users starting Sunday unless the Biden administration provides assurances that the company will not face penalties for violating the recently upheld ban. This follows a decision by the US Supreme Court earlier on Friday to uphold the controversial ban, which requires TikTok to sell its US operations to American buyers by January 19 to avoid being banned. The legislation, signed into law by President Joe Biden in April with strong bipartisan support, has drawn widespread debate over its implications for free speech and data security. In a statement, TikTok criticized the Biden administration's response, calling it insufficient to reassure service providers responsible for maintaining the app's availability in the US. "The statements issued today by both the Biden White House and the Department of Justice have failed to provide the necessary clarity and assurance," TikTok said. "Unless the Biden administration immediately provides a definitive statement... TikTok will be forced to go dark on January 19." President-elect Donald Trump, set to be inaugurated Monday, has suggested he may not enforce the ban and has requested the Supreme Court to delay its implementation to allow his administration time to negotiate a deal for TikTok's sale. However, the Court denied the appeal, effectively clearing the way for the ban to take effect as scheduled. The Biden administration has indicated that enforcement will be left to Trump's incoming administration. If no resolution is reached by Sunday, TikTok plans to suspend its services in the US but could later resume operations if Trump's administration offers assurances against enforcement. The ban has sparked concerns among users, content creators, and businesses that rely on the platform, as well as broader debates over the intersection of national security, free speech, and government regulation of technology. — Agencies
