Washington — TikTok has preemptively halted its services in the United States late on Saturday, leaving millions of users without access to the app following a Supreme Court decision that upheld a law aimed at severing its ties with China over national security concerns. This law, enacted last year, required TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations by January 19, 2025, or face exclusion from U.S. app and hosting platforms.

The Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling negated TikTok’s claim that the law infringed upon free speech rights, endorsing the government’s stance that the app posed a risk due to potential data collection by the Chinese government. Despite the possibility of a brief extension if a divestiture were in progress, TikTok, acknowledging the impossibility of a timely sale due to Chinese regulatory constraints, decided to shut down voluntarily ahead of the deadline.
U.S. users attempting to access TikTok late Saturday received a message stating, “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now,” explaining that a law banning TikTok in the U.S. had been implemented. The message also hinted at optimism regarding President-elect Trump’s willingness to negotiate a solution post-inauguration.
The Biden administration had passed the enforcement baton to the incoming Trump administration, labeling TikTok’s preemptive shutdown as a “stunt.” However, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre advised that any concerns should be addressed to the Trump administration, which officially takes over on Monday.
Trump, who has flip-flopped on his stance towards TikTok, hinted at possibly extending the deadline by 90 days, a move he said would be “appropriate” but did not confirm. This statement came amidst discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping, although the Chinese account of their conversation omitted mention of TikTok.
Legally, the divest-or-ban law remains enforceable, with potential penalties for companies like Apple and Google should they continue to support TikTok post-ban. The Supreme Court’s decision highlighted the national security risks associated with TikTok’s data practices and its connection to a foreign adversary, affirming Congress’s right to mandate such measures.
During the legal battle, TikTok’s legal representative, Noel Francisco, admitted the difficulty of a quick divestiture, noting that even if sold without its core algorithm, the platform would be significantly altered, potentially taking “many years” to rebuild.
The law was part of a broader legislative package passed with bipartisan support, which TikTok and ByteDance contested soon after its enactment, arguing it was an overreach on constitutional grounds. However, both a federal appeals court and the Supreme Court upheld the statute, emphasizing the protection of U.S. data from foreign threats over the platform’s operational freedom.
As we move into this new phase, the future of TikTok in America remains uncertain, with the possibility of reintroduction hinging on political will, legal interpretations, and international negotiations. Meanwhile, millions of users and thousands of creators are left to navigate a digital landscape without one of their primary platforms, looking towards potential alternatives or hoping for a reversal of fortunes.