With President-elect Donald Trump adding uncertainty around whether a TikTok ban will go into effect, the focus is now turning to companies like Google and Apple which are expected to take the popular video-sharing app off their platforms in just two days.
Though the Supreme Court on Friday unanimously upheld a federal law that could ban TikTok nationwide, it’s unclear how a shutdown of the popular social media platform will play out and what Americans will see when the clock strikes midnight on Sunday.
The court decision comes against a backdrop of unusual political agitation by Trump, who vowed that he could negotiate a solution after he takes office, and the administration of President Joe Biden, which has signaled it won’t enforce the law beginning Sunday, his final full day in office. Now, tech observers — and some users — are intently watching to see what happens over the weekend and beyond.
“We’re really in uncharted territory here in terms of tech policy,” said Sarak Kreps, the director of Cornell University’s Tech Policy Institute.
Under the law, mobile app stores — like the ones operated by Apple and Google — and internet hosting services will face major fines if they continue to distribute the platform to U.S. users beyond the deadline for divestment from ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based parent company. The companies could pay up to $5,000 for each user who continues to access TikTok, meaning penalties could total a large sum.
“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 said.
Experts have noted TikTok’s app should remain available for current users, but existing ones will no longer be able to update it, making it unusable in the long term.
Trump’s national security adviser has signaled this week that the incoming administration may take steps to “keep TikTok from going dark,” though what that looks like — and if any of those steps can withhold legal scrutiny — remains unclear.
“My decision on TikTok will be made in the not-too-distant future, but I must have time to review the situation,” Trump said Friday in a post on Truth Social after the court’s ruling. Earlier in the day, he said in another post that TikTok was among the topics in his conversation with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
In the meantime, some of the attention has turned to tech companies, such as Apple, Google, and Oracle, who currently offer TikTok on their app stores or host company data on their servers.
Tech CEOs have been attempting to forge friendlier ties with Trump, who wants to put the TikTok ban on hold since he was elected in November. But Kreps said it would “defy credulity” for them to continue to offer TikTok, even if they want to please Trump since it would open them up to punitive fines.
Tech companies are also used to removing apps at the behest of governments. In 2023, Apple says it removed nearly 1,500 apps globally. Nearly 1,300 of the apps were taken down in China.
“Penalties for companies like Apple and Google could run as high as $850 billion,” Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., wrote on X on Thursday, while referring to the U.S. TikTok law. “Not sure I’d take a politician’s word if I ran those companies.”
Meanwhile, David Choffnes, executive director of the Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute at Northeastern University in Boston, said he believes there’s a “small chance” that nothing happens to TikTok, but acknowledged that would require “enormous risk on on the part of the companies that support them.”
Apple, Google, and Oracle did not respond to questions sent this week about their plans on TikTok.
In a video after the court ruling, TikTok CEO Shou Chew, who is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration and be granted a prime seating location on the dais, thanked the president-elect for “his commitment to work” with TikTok to “find a solution” that keeps the platform available.
“We are grateful and pleased to have the support of a president who truly understands our platform — one who has used TikTok to express his own thoughts and perspectives, connecting with the world and generating more than 60 billion views of his content in the process,” Chew said.
Earlier this week, TikTok told its U.S. employees that its offices would remain open for work even if the “situation” won’t be resolved by Sunday. In the memo, which was first reported by The New York Times and confirmed by the company, TikTok told workers that their “employment, pay and benefits” were secure, adding that the law was written in a way that impacts the U.S. user experience, not the entities that employ them.
Meanwhile, in a letter sent Friday to Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland, an attorney for TikTok creators who sued the government asked the administration to pause enforcement of the law “until there is further definitive guidance.”
“In addition, we request that you clarify that no app store, internet hosting service, or other provider faces any risk of enforcement or penalties concerning TikTok, CapCut, or any other ByteDance apps until such further guidance has been issued,” said the letter by attorney Jeffrey Fisher.
TikTok announced on Friday that it expects to cease operations for its 170 million American users on Sunday, January 19, 2025, due to a new federal law targeting the app's Chinese ownership. This situation stems from longstanding concerns about national security risks posed by TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, being based in China.
The law in question, which was just upheld by the Supreme Court, creates a significant challenge for TikTok's continued operation in the United States. It prohibits major tech companies like Apple and Google from providing essential services to TikTok, including distribution through their app stores and cloud computing support, unless ByteDance sells TikTok to a non-Chinese owner.
The timing of this situation is particularly complex due to the upcoming presidential transition. While the Biden administration has indicated through Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco that enforcement would be gradual, and White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre suggested enforcement would fall to the incoming Trump administration taking office Monday, these statements haven't provided sufficient reassurance to the tech companies involved.
The stakes are particularly high for these service providers, as they could face substantial penalties - up to $5,000 per U.S. TikTok user - if they continue supporting the app after the ban takes effect. This potential liability explains why TikTok is seeking more explicit assurances from the administration that these companies won't face penalties for maintaining their services.
TikTok's announcement leaves several crucial questions unanswered, including whether the platform plans to voluntarily shut down its services or if technical limitations from losing access to essential infrastructure will force it offline. The company expressed its frustration with what it sees as insufficient clarity from both the Biden White House and the Department of Justice regarding protections for the service providers that are crucial to keeping TikTok operational for its American user base.
This development represents a significant escalation in the ongoing tension between U.S. national security concerns and one of the world's most popular social media platforms, with potential implications for digital communication, content creation, and international technology policy.
TikTok's Dance with Destiny: Navigating Regulatory Challenges
In mid-2023, TikTok faced a significant threat to its operation in the United States as Congress moved toward legislation that would ban the app unless it divested from its Chinese ownership. This pivotal moment illustrates the intersection of technological innovation and legal scrutiny. Despite TikTok's impressive ability to evade regulatory threats and rise to popularity, its recent ban highlights the critical balance needed between technological innovation and legal oversight, emphasizing the vulnerability of social media platforms amid national security concerns.
Rising Popularity Amidst Controversy
TikTok's journey in the United States has been nothing short of extraordinary. Launched after ByteDance acquired the lip-syncing app Musical.ly, TikTok quickly became the most downloaded app in the country, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. This rise in popularity can be attributed to its engaging short-form video structure, which resonated with users looking for entertainment during lockdowns. For instance, well-known figures like Charli D’Amelio became household names, demonstrating TikTok's ability to launch users into stardom. However, this success did not come without backlash. U.S. lawmakers expressed national security concerns regarding ByteDance's ties to China, fearing that sensitive user data could be compromised. The political winds turned increasingly hostile toward TikTok, setting the stage for a showdown between innovation and regulation.
Evading Regulatory Threats
For years, TikTok managed to successfully navigate the regulatory landscape, even as multiple administrations sought to curb its influence. Following the efforts by the Trump administration to impose a ban based on data privacy concerns, TikTok's legal team responded robustly, securing favorable court rulings that blocked the planned restrictions. This sense of security emboldened TikTok's leadership, leading to complacency highlighted by the abandonment of 'Project Achilles'—a proposed public relations campaign aimed at countering potential bans. TikTok's lobbying efforts, including high-profile engagements with lawmakers and an advertising blitz, initially appeared effective in swaying opinions. However, as the narrative pivoted in 2023 and bipartisan support grew for restricting the app, it became evident that TikTok was narrowing its options to evade impending consequences.
The Fall of TikTok: A Lesson in Complacency
Ultimately, TikTok's overconfidence may have cost it dearly. The law passed by Congress in early 2024, mandating the sale of TikTok's American operations, demonstrated the shift in political resolve. As the deadline drew near, TikTok scrambled to leverage its massive user base and appeal to sentiment, but public relationships and celebrity endorsements could not alter the legal landscape decisively. Users expressed disbelief over the ban, yet the reality became undeniable as logistical responses to legislation culminated in a tangible shutdown. This outcome serves as a stark warning to other tech companies about the precarious balance they must maintain between growth aspirations and regulatory compliance. Thus, TikTok’s decline from a popular platform into legislative uncertainty underscores the imperative for social media companies to remain vigilant and responsive to evolving regulatory demands while navigating their complex role in contemporary digital society.
The tale of TikTok serves as a reminder of the precarious nature of popularity in the social media landscape. While the app thrived amidst widespread acclaim, its failure to heed the regulatory climate ultimately led to existential threats. As national security concerns mount, TikTok's journey spotlights the necessity for technology firms to cultivate proactive engagement with lawmakers and establish trust with users. The balance between innovation and oversight will be crucial for the future of similar platforms in an increasingly scrutinizing environment.