WASHINGTON,D.C, Jan 18, (V7N) — TikTok announced it will "go dark" in the United States on Sunday unless the Biden administration offers assurances that a new law mandating its ban won’t penalize service providers.

This warning comes after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld legislation requiring TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to either sell the app or halt U.S. operations by January 19. The ruling, driven by national security concerns over ByteDance's data practices and ties to China, puts TikTok’s future in limbo for its 170 million American users.

TikTok criticized the Biden administration and the Department of Justice for failing to provide clear assurances to essential service providers, potentially forcing the platform to cease operations.

"Unless the Biden Administration immediately provides a definitive statement... TikTok will be forced to go dark on January 19," the company said.

The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the law does not violate free speech, supporting Congress's stance that ByteDance's ownership of TikTok poses a national security risk. Beijing and ByteDance have rejected selling TikTok's U.S. operations, calling the law an act of "theft."

Despite the ruling, the Biden administration has signaled it won’t enforce the ban immediately, leaving the decision to President-elect Donald Trump. Trump, who opposes the ban, reportedly discussed TikTok with Chinese President Xi Jinping and indicated he needs more time to explore alternatives.

Former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt has expressed interest in acquiring TikTok’s U.S. operations and is open to working with Trump to finalize a deal.

If the ban proceeds, Apple and Google would be required to remove TikTok from their app stores, facing fines of up to $5,000 per user if the app remains accessible.

A shutdown could benefit U.S. competitors like Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, though creators argue TikTok’s features are unmatched.

Digital marketing agencies report uncertainty among advertisers, with some preparing for a shutdown and others hopeful for a resolution.

TikTok CEO Shou Chew has expressed gratitude toward Trump for seeking a solution and plans to attend his inauguration. Meanwhile, Trump’s national security advisor hinted at a possible 90-day delay if progress toward a sale is shown.

As the deadline approaches, TikTok’s future in the U.S. remains precarious, with significant implications for creators, users, and the tech industry.

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