Popular video-sharing app TikTok has announced that it will be forced to cease operations in the United States starting Sunday unless President Joe Biden’s administration assures service providers like Apple and Google that they will not face repercussions if the ban is enforced, Reuters reports.

This announcement comes as the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a law mandating the ban of the Chinese-owned app unless its parent company, ByteDance, divests its ownership. The unanimous 9-0 ruling leaves TikTok’s future-and that of its 170 million U.S. users-in jeopardy.

TikTok’s CEO stated that without explicit assurances from the Biden administration to service providers, TikTok will suspend its operations in the U.S. beginning January 19.

The White House has declined to comment. However, companies like Apple, Google, and Oracle could face hefty fines if they continue providing services to TikTok post-ban.

The law, passed last year with bipartisan support in Congress and signed by President Biden, has sparked debate. Some lawmakers now advocate keeping TikTok operational in the U.S. despite the ban.

TikTok, ByteDance, and some of the app’s users challenged the law, citing First Amendment rights to freedom of speech under the U.S. Constitution. However, the Supreme Court ruled that the ban does not violate constitutional rights.

ByteDance has yet to act on the mandate to divest TikTok by Sunday’s deadline. Nevertheless, this closure may not be permanent. Former President Donald Trump, who has vowed to “save TikTok,” has promised swift action to revive the app upon his return to the presidency. ‍Source: Reuters

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