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TikTok has announced it will suspend access for over 170 million American users on Sunday unless President Joe Biden’s administration intervenes and immediately assures that the app will not face penalties under a looming ban.
The potential shutdown stems from a bipartisan law signed by Biden in April, requiring TikTok to sell its operations to American buyers by Sunday or face a nationwide ban.
The Supreme Court upheld the controversial law on Friday, rejecting an appeal from TikTok’s owners, who argued the measure violated the First Amendment.
TikTok, in a statement issued Friday evening, criticised the Biden administration for failing to provide clarity. “The statements issued today by both the Biden White House and the Department of Justice have failed to provide the necessary clarity and assurance to the service providers that are integral to maintaining TikTok’s availability to over 170 million Americans,” the company said.
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“Unless the Biden Administration immediately provides a definitive statement to satisfy the most critical service providers assuring non-enforcement, unfortunately, TikTok will be forced to go dark on January 19.”
The Biden administration, which has left enforcement of the ban to incoming President Donald Trump, reiterated Friday that it had no plans to penalise service providers such as Google and Apple for hosting TikTok on Sunday. However, officials have not ruled out further action before the deadline.
Trump, who will be inaugurated on Monday, has hinted at not enforcing the ban but has yet to issue a definitive statement.
His team had sought a stay from the Supreme Court to allow time for negotiations on TikTok’s sale to American buyers, but the court denied the request, leaving the ban in place.
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