The U.S. Supreme Court ruled earlier on Friday to uphold a ban on the social media platform from app stores effective Jan. 19.
TikTok said it would be “forced to go dark” on Sunday if the Biden administration does not give a definitive statement assuring non-enforcement of a law requiring the company to divest or face a nationwide ban.
“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 said in a statement on Jan. 17.
“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 January 19,” it added.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled earlier on Friday to uphold a ban on the video-sharing app from app stores unless TikTok’s China-based owner ByteDance divests its U.S. assets by Sunday. President Joe Biden signed the law in April 2024.
In a 27-page opinion, the court acknowledged that TikTok offers “a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement, and source of community” for millions of U.S. users.
The court also stated that Congress had determined divestment was necessary to address “well-supported national security concerns” regarding TikTok’s data collection practices and ties to “a foreign adversary.”
The Department of Justice (DOJ) supported the court’s decision. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said the next phase of implementing the legislation, once it takes effect on Jan. 19, will be a “process that plays out over time.”
“The Court’s ruling also underscores that the bipartisan legislation upheld today is focused on protecting Americans, not restricting free speech,” Monaco said in a statement.
“Rather, this legislation is about breaking the ties that bind TikTok to the government in Beijing, in a manner consistent with the Constitution.”
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said the ruling would allow the DOJ to prevent the Chinese regime from “weaponizing” TikTok to undermine the national security of the United States.
