Chinese video platform TikTok warned it would suspend services in the United States starting on the 19th (local time) in response to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision that upheld the forced sale law.
According to Reuters and AFP on the 17th (local time), TikTok stated, "If the Joe Biden administration does not guarantee that it will not enforce a TikTok ban, services in the U.S. will be forcibly terminated starting on the 19th."
This comes after the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously upheld the law requiring TikTok to be expelled from the market if it does not sell its U.S. business rights the previous day.
The Supreme Court ruled, "Considering the vast sensitive data TikTok collects and the potential control by foreign hostile forces, the forced sale law is justified, and it does not violate freedom of expression." Accordingly, the Department of Justice explained, "This decision allows us to prevent the Chinese government from using TikTok to threaten U.S. national security."
The White House also emphasized in a statement the day before the Supreme Court ruling that "TikTok must be a platform that Americans can continue to use, but to address national security concerns, it must be under American or non-Chinese ownership."
In response, TikTok criticized the Biden administration for failing to provide clear guidelines and assurances to companies like Apple and Google that provide essential services for its 170 million users in the U.S.
However, there are projections that the immediate likelihood of service suspension could decrease following remarks from President-elect Donald Trump, who will take office on the 20th, suggesting a possible lifting of the TikTok ban. Trump noted on his social media after the Supreme Court ruling, "The ruling deserves respect, but the final decision on the TikTok issue will require my time."
The Biden administration also indicated its intention to hand the enforcement of the forced sale law over to the next administration. A White House Spokesperson explained, "Given that the (law enforcement) timing is after the 20th, this issue is something the Trump administration will deal with."
Meanwhile, as the possibility of a TikTok ban increases, influencers who relied on revenue generation are on high alert. The Washington Post reported that TikTok creators are urgently responding by looking for alternative platforms or inflating their follower counts. Some creators have even pleaded with President-elect Trump to halt the TikTok ban.