According to a report by the Information yesterday, TikTok plans to fully shut down its app in the United States on Sunday, Jan. 19, unless the US Supreme Court intervenes to block the ban. On the same day, Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey announced the introduction of a bill that would extend the ban or sale deadline by 270 days, his office said in a statement. Meanwhile, the Biden administration is also reportedly exploring ways to keep TikTok available in the US on Sunday.
Why it matters: The proposed delay to the ban reflects the US’s conflicted stance on TikTok. Whether or not the ban is delayed, millions of users will be affected as policy uncertainty impacts operations, with the outcome of the latest move potentially serving as pivotal in a case that has implications for the future development of large multinational tech companies.
Details: The ban does not require TikTok to shut down its app but instead mandates that app store operators like Apple and Google stop offering TikTok for download. It also requires TikTok’s cloud service provider, Oracle, to cease hosting its US user data. However, Tiktok owner ByteDance has a different plan in mind.
- The TikTok app will be shut down entirely rather than remain operational in already-downloaded versions, according to the Information. Users who attempt to open the app will see a pop-up message directing them to a website explaining the ban. According to a source familiar with the matter, TikTok also plans to offer users an option to download their personal data to retain their records.
- The upcoming Sunday deadline is also putting pressure on TikTok’s US employees. According to The Verge, TikTok executives are preparing for various scenarios. In an internal memo, employees were informed that the company is continuing to plan its next steps ahead of an expected court ruling. The memo stated: “ Our offices will remain open, even if this situation hasn’t been resolved before the January 19 deadline. The bill is not written in a way that impacts the entities through which you are employed, only the US user experience.”
- Not everyone wants to see TikTok become immediately inaccessible. Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey proposed a delay to the TikTok ban deadline less than a week before it was set to take effect. Meanwhile, both the Biden and Trump administrations have been reportedly exploring solutions to save TikTok, despite earlier supporting the ban.
Context: Although this is not the first time TikTok has faced a ban in a country, the prolonged standoff has triggered a ripple effect.
- The Indian government outlawed the app in June 2020, citing worries about data privacy and national security. India was the largest market for TikTok before the India ban.
- In October last year, Malaysia stated that TikTok was not fully compliant with its laws.
- In November, as the US TikTok ban sparked widespread debate, the Canadian federal government ordered TikTok to shut down its corporate offices in Toronto and Vancouver, citing national security concerns.
- Facing the loss of their digital community, TikTok users in the US are flocking to another Chinese social media platform, Xiaohongshu (also known as the RedNote), both to protest the Supreme Court’s decision and in curiosity at the platform’s unique appeal.
- As Xiaohongshu experienced a surge in international users, significant numbers of US users were encouraged to learn Mandarin – a potential outcome lawmakers behind the ban may not have anticipated.
Related
