In a significant turn of events, a news report indicates that the social media giant Tik Tok is planning a complete shutdown of its operations in the United States this Sunday, should a legislative ban come into effect.
The social media platform, which boasts over 170 million users in the US, is reportedly set to perform an immediate and full closure, rather than allowing its existing user base to continue using the service as some had anticipated, according to sources speaking to The Information.
This potential shutdown comes as Tik Tok faces a legislative deadline to cease all US operations by January 19 unless it severs ties with its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
According to The Information, the legal mandate only requires app stores to remove Tik Tok and for cloud providers to stop storing US user data on their platforms.
Should the January 19 deadline pass, users who open the Tik Tok app will reportedly be met with a message directing them to a company statement. This statement will inform users that the service is no longer available due to the federal ban and will offer them the option to download their personal data.
This plan emerged after Tik Tok faced skeptical questioning from the Supreme Court during oral arguments last Friday. The court’s questions suggested a likely continuation of the ban.
In its defense, Tik Tok has argued that the ban violates the First Amendment of the Constitution, which protects freedom of speech.
The timing of the potential shutdown coincides with the US presidential transition. President-elect Trump, who has expressed opposition to the Tik Tok ban, is set to be inaugurated on Monday.
ByteDance has so far refused to sell Tik Tok‘s US operations. Market analysts suggest that this decision may be revisited in light of the very real possibility of being forced to exit the American market entirely.
In an internal email obtained by The Verge on Tuesday, Tik Tok assured its US-based employees that their employment, salaries, and benefits would continue. The company also indicated that its offices would remain open even if a solution to the issue is not found before Sunday’s deadline.
The company told its employees that it had “planned for all possible scenarios.”
When contacted by AFP, Tik Tok declined to comment.
