Popular short video app TikTok is set to face a ban from the U.S. government in three days (January 19). According to the law, this app, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, will be removed from Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store.
At the same time, internet hosting service companies like Oracle will also be required to cease support for TikTok starting from the same day.
Failure to comply with the law will result in fines of $5,000 per user imposed by the U.S. Department of Justice on these companies. With TikTok having approximately 170 million active users in the U.S., this fine could reach up to $850 billion, enough to ensure strict compliance by all relevant companies.
Senior Republican Senator and China hawk, Tom Cotton, reminded on social media platform X on Thursday (January 16) that Apple and Google would face massive fines if they fail to remove TikTok as scheduled.
As early as December last year, members of the Congressional Committee on Communist China wrote to Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, urging the executives to prepare for compliance with the law and reminding them of the responsibilities as operators of app stores.
It remains unclear whether TikTok may completely shut down by the deadline on Sunday, preventing U.S. users from accessing it.
According to Reuters citing sources on Wednesday (January 15), TikTok is planning to shut down services to U.S. users starting from the 19th.
Sources indicate that TikTok plans to display a pop-up message when users attempt to open the app, directing them to a webpage containing information about the ban, while also offering the option to download personal data for user retention.
It’s important to note that U.S. law does not require TikTok to shut down completely, only to restrict its download on Apple and Google app stores, allowing existing users to continue using the app but without being able to update.
U.S. officials have warned that TikTok’s management is influenced by the Chinese government, which could compel the company to share data of its U.S. users and to propagate Communist propaganda.
The White House previously stated, for national security reasons, they hoped to see ByteDance divest from TikTok but would not implement a complete ban on the app.
As President Biden prepares to leave the White House, the responsibility for enforcing the TikTok ban will transition to President Trump.
Under the law, the President has the authority to extend the ban for 90 days but must demonstrate substantial progress in acquisition negotiations, including reaching a legally binding agreement.
On Friday (January 17), the Supreme Court rejected TikTok’s appeal, upholding the ban. In a video statement released by TikTok CEO Zhang Yiming, he thanked Trump for “committing to work with us to find a solution that allows TikTok to continue operating in the U.S.”
Meanwhile, ByteDance has repeatedly refused to sell TikTok business within the past 90 days.
On the same day, Trump tweeted on social media platform “Truth Social”, stating that the Supreme Court’s decision on TikTok was expected, and “everyone must respect this decision”.
He further wrote, “I will make a decision on the future of TikTok as soon as possible, but it will take time to fully review the situation. Stay tuned!”
According to previous reports from Bloomberg, the Chinese government is considering various contingency plans, including reportedly having billionaire Elon Musk acquire TikTok’s U.S. operations.
Zhang Yiming will attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday, where several top CEOs from American tech companies have been invited to attend.
Trump revealed that he had just spoken with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Friday, with the conversation involving the topic of TikTok.