TikTok prepares to shut US servers down ahead of possible federal ban

By April 2024, President Joe Biden enacted a law compelling ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to sell off their U.S. assets by a specific deadline or face a potential nationwide ban. Since ByteDance has not complied with this requirement, it seems that TikTok may be planning to shut down its American servers and terminate its services for users in the United States unless the Supreme Court intervenes to halt the prohibition.

Reports from The Information suggest that TikTok is preparing for a potential ban, based on information from sources close to the situation. If the ban does occur, it would initially only affect new downloads of the app from Apple and Google stores. However, existing users would be able to continue using the app for the time being. According to multiple anonymous sources, TikTok’s plan may be to completely shut down its operations in the US unless there is a significant change in circumstances. Upon the implementation of the ban, opening the app will direct users to a webpage that explains the reason for the ban. Users affected will have the option to download all their data to protect their personal information.

For several months, there’s been ongoing discussion about TikTok’s future due to potential restrictions. ByteDance has made various efforts to avoid the ban since President Biden signed the relevant law, such as filing a lawsuit claiming infringement of First Amendment rights and seeking an emergency injunction to postpone the ban. There were also whispers that ByteDance might sell TikTok’s US rights to Elon Musk. Regrettably, none of these attempts have yielded any success in preventing the ban, leading many to believe that TikTok may withdraw its service if reliable sources are correct.

As January 19, 2025 approaches, marking the end of the potential TikTok ban in the U.S., significant adjustments might be necessary to prevent this event. Keep an eye out for further developments on this topic.

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2025-01-15 23:57