The future of TikTok hangs in the balance as U.S. lawmakers push for stringent actions against the popular app. By January 19, 2025, if ByteDance, the app's Chinese parent company, fails to divest ownership, major tech giants Apple and Google could be forced to pull the app from their platforms, leading to significant changes for its 170 million American users.
The announcement follows rising national security concerns about TikTok’s Chinese roots. On December 6, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld legislation mandATING ByteDance to sell TikTok, effectively rejecting the company's legal defenses. Representative John Moolenaar, the chair of the House Select Committee on China, and fellow committee member Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi urged TikTok's CEO, Shou Zi Chew, to facilitate the sale, stating, "Congress has acted decisively to defend the national security of the United States and protect TikTok’s American users from the Chinese Communist Party. We urge TikTok to immediately execute a qualified divestiture."
Adding to the urgency, the committee sent letters to Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet, and Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, emphasizing compliance with the law. Lawmakers insisted they must block any updates or support for TikTok if the divestiture is not completed by the imminent deadline.
On December 9, TikTok and its parent company filed an emergency motion seeking to delay the enforcement of the ruling, arguing it violated the First Amendment rights of its users. TikTok claimed: "If the Act is allowed to take effect... this Court will lose its ability to grant applicants meaningful relief." The U.S. Justice Department quickly countered their motion, emphasizing TikTok lacked sufficient justification to avoid Supreme Court scrutiny.
Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump, who previously attempted to ban TikTok through executive order during his presidency, hinted at intervention to safeguard the app. This came during his meeting with Chew at Mar-a-Lago, where he stated, "I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok because I won youth by 34 points. And there are those who say TikTok has something to do with this."
The Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, signed earlier this year, embodies the U.S. government's mounting distrust of TikTok. Lawmakers enacted the law, concerned about potential Chinese government espionage, underscoring the existential threat they believe TikTok poses.
Experts caution the potential removal of TikTok, and its operational shutdown could drive users to competing platforms. Sarah Kreps, director of the Tech Policy Institute at Cornell University, remarked, "Every next step where they're blocked makes this more of a self-fulfilling prophecy. The more people start to migrate [to platforms like Instagram or YouTube], the more this ban has its intended effect."
TikTok is racing against time, as the date outlined by the law draws nearer. The app's 170 million users might be left out in the cold, with updates and support services rendered obsolete. Should the app face removal, those without it would be unable to download the application, effectively cutting off access for new users entirely.
The looming deadline for TikTok's divestiture raises questions about the broader tech relationship between the United States and China. Should the Supreme Court decline to hear TikTok’s appeal, or if the court rules against the app, the ban would swiftly become reality, with the law taking immediate effect. "If the law is enforced, the app will disappear from mobile app stores on January 19 and be unavailable to the half of the country who does not already use the app," TikTok warned. It also cautioned of dire consequences should its removal from app stores come to fruition.
What remains to be seen is whether TikTok can utilize any last-minute interventions to secure its future. While speculation surrounds the prospect of former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick potentially acquiring TikTok, the likelihood remains uncertain. The incoming Trump administration might present alternative avenues for TikTok's survival, with potential obstructions to the enforcement of the law once Trump assumes office.
According to Kreps, Trump could tactically avoid enforcing the ban without outright repealing it, simply by not allocating resources to comply with it or leveraging powers to delay its enactment. Lawmakers appear divided on how to address TikTok, torn between national security interests and the platform's undeniable popularity.
While TikTok's legal battle intensifies, users remain caught in limbo, with many anticipating the platform they love could vanish overnight. Should the current governmental stance remain unchanged, American user voices may become silenced, leaving users wondering about the fate of their cherished digital space. The outcome of this situation showcases the complicated intersection of technology, politics, and societal interests, and the next few weeks are pivotal for the future of TikTok in the U.S.