Washington, Jan 17 (Reuters) - TikTok issued a late warning on Friday that it will cease operations in the United States by Sunday unless President Joe Biden's administration assures companies like Apple and Google that they won't face enforcement actions when the ban comes into effect.
The announcement followed a court validation of a law banning TikTok in the U.S. on national security grounds if its Chinese parent company ByteDance fails to divest it, potentially leading to the app shutting down within two days.
The 9-0 court ruling has left the popular social media platform, along with its 170 million American users, in a state of uncertainty, awaiting possible intervention from Biden, who has committed to saving TikTok post his inauguration on Monday.
"Unless the Biden Administration promptly offers a clear statement to reassure key service providers of non-enforcement, TikTok will regretfully have to suspend operations on January 19," the company stated.
The White House opted not to respond.
To avoid significant fines, tech giants like Apple, Alphabet's Google, Oracle, and others may need to halt services to TikTok after the ban takes effect.
Despite being backed by bipartisan support in Congress and signed into law by , there is now a push from some lawmakers to keep TikTok running in the U.S.
TikTok, ByteDance, and certain users contested the law but the Supreme Court ruled it did not violate the First Amendment's protection of free speech against government interference as argued.
With ByteDance making minimal attempts to sell TikTok before the Sunday deadline, the app's shutdown may be temporary. Meanwhile, Trump, who previously attempted to ban TikTok in 2020, has indicated impending action regarding the app's fate.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is scheduled to attend Trump's second inauguration in Washington on Monday.
In addition, Trump mentioned discussing TikTok with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a recent phone call.
Concerns over TikTok's Chinese ownership have lingered for years among U.S. officials, unfolding amid escalating trade tensions between the two largest global economies.
Lawmakers and the Biden administration have expressed apprehensions that China could exploit TikTok to gather data for malevolent purposes like harassment, recruitment, or espionage.
The Supreme Court, in an unsigned opinion, stated, "TikTok's size and vulnerability to foreign control, combined with the extensive data it collects, justify special treatment to address national security concerns."
TikTok has gained immense popularity in the U.S., especially among young users utilizing it for short-form videos, including many for small business ventures.
The possibility of TikTok's ban has stunned some users, such as Lourd Asprec, a 21-year-old from Houston, who expressed disbelief at the news.
As the January 19 deadline nears, millions of users are transitioning to alternate Chinese-owned platforms, grappling with Mandarin interfaces to resume their activities.
According to China expert Craig Singleton from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, "China is swiftly adjusting in response to the decision, not only by creating apps but also by establishing a narrative power structure to influence global conversations."
Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized that the court's decision safeguards U.S. national security interests.
The Biden administration has highlighted the possibility of TikTok's continued operation once freed from Chinese influence, clarifying that Biden is not inclined to intervene to preserve the app.
While the law prohibits specific services to TikTok and other apps under foreign-adversary control, Google refrained from commenting, and Apple and Oracle did not offer any responses upon request.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre indicated that execution of the law would fall under the next administration, whereas the Justice Department cited an unfolding process post the January 19 enforcement of the law.
TikTok criticized these statements for failing to provide the essential clarity and assurance to service providers crucial for maintaining TikTok's accessibility to over 170 million Americans.
Although the possibility of a suitable buyer or Trump invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act remains, only one prominent bidder has emerged thus far - , who values TikTok at approximately $20 billion without its algorithm.
"Beijing relies more on TikTok than Washington does," noted Michael Sobolik, a senior fellow specializing in U.S.-China relations at the Hudson Institute, suggesting that Trump holds leverage for securing TikTok's continued American operation minus national security threats.