TikTok Ban in US in place
Introduction
As of Saturday, January 18, 2025, at 10 PM CST, the TikTok ban in the United States is already in place.
Here are the key updates on the situation:
Supreme Court Decision
On January 17, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously upheld the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which requires ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to divest its interest in TikTok or face a nationwide ban. The court rejected TikTok’s argument that the ban violates First Amendment rights, stating that Congress has determined divestiture is necessary to address well-founded national security concerns.
Impending Shutdown
TikTok has announced that it will be forced to “go dark” on January 19, 2025, unless the U.S. government intervenes. The company stated that both the Biden administration and the Department of Justice have not provided the necessary clarity and reassurance to service providers crucial for keeping TikTok operational.
Implementation and Enforcement
Starting Sunday, January 19:
Apple and Google will be prohibited from offering TikTok in their app stores
Web-hosting services must sever connections with TikTok or face penalties of $5,000 for each user who can still access the app
Existing users may lose access to the platform, as TikTok has warned it will be “temporarily unavailable”
Political Developments
The Biden administration has indicated it will leave enforcement of the law to the incoming Trump administration
President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on Monday, January 20, has expressed interest in finding a solution to preserve the app
Trump may consider giving TikTok a 90-day reprieve on Monday
Potential Outcomes
Shutdown: TikTok went offline in the U.S.
Divestiture: ByteDance could still attempt to sell TikTok to a U.S. buyer, though no such deal appears imminent
Extension: Trump may use his presidential authority to delay the ban’s implementation
Negotiated Resolution: There’s potential for a revival of the “Project Texas” national security arrangement, which aims to mitigate Chinese influence through U.S.-based data supervision
Conclusion
As the situation continues to evolve rapidly, TikTok’s 170 million U.S. users and the broader tech industry are closely watching for any last-minute developments that could affect the app’s fate in the country.