TikTok goes dark in the US

TikTok has gone dark in the US, the result of a federal law banning the popular short-form video app for millions of Americans — at least for now.

TikTok users started receiving a message about the ban around 10:30 pm Eastern on Saturday evening, and the app also disappeared from the Apple and Google Play app stores.

“Sorry, TikTok is not available right now,” the company’s message read. “Unfortunately the United States has passed a law banning TikTok, which means you can’t use TikTok for now.”

The message also suggests that this may only be a temporary disappearance. TikTok credits President-elect Donald Trump for indicating that “he will work with us on a solution to restore TikTok once he takes office,” urging users to “stay tuned!”

The company warned earlier this week that the app’s demise was imminent, Friday saying it will “get dark.” Unless President Joe Biden’s administration makes a “specific statement” that it will not implement the ban.

Bipartisan majority house And The Senate Last April passed a law requiring TikTok owner ByteDance to sell the app or see it banned in the US over potential Chinese surveillance and propaganda concerns. Biden is quickly signing the bill. And when the effort Force ByteDance to uninstall Going back to Trump’s first administration, he has recently taken a different tone. Trump Asking the Supreme Court to delay the ban And he said “probably” Give the company an extension of 90 days.

The Supreme Court issued the rule The law came into force on Friday; And the Biden administration leaned on it Leave the app’s fate in the hands of the next president. White House press secretary Karin Jean-Pierre noted that with the law taking effect just before Trump’s inauguration on Monday, “steps to implement the law will fall solely on the next administration.” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco issued a similar statement saying that “the next step in this effort — implementing and ensuring compliance with the law after it takes effect on Jan. 19 — is a process that will play out over time.”

TikTok, however, suggested that this is not enough assurance for “critical service providers” to continue listing or hosting the app in the US unless the Biden administration makes the aforementioned “specific statement”. Jean-Pierre called TikTok’s response “a stunt” and claimed there was “no reason for TikTok or other companies to take action in the next few days before the Trump administration takes office on Monday.”

Stunt or not, TikTok is gone for now.

As for the app’s long-term prospects, Trump said he plans to “negotiate a resolution” that would likely include a sale or other concessions from ByteDance, which has repeatedly said it is not yet interested in selling. Trump seems optimistic about its prospects.

Trump Reiterated on NBC News On Saturday that he would “likely” give TikTok a 90-day reprieve from the ban, after he took office on Monday.

“I think that will definitely be an option that we look at. A 90-day extension is something that will likely be done, as it is appropriate. You know, it’s appropriate. We have to watch it carefully. It’s a very big situation,” Trump told the outlet.

Sunday morning, He posted that he would issue an executive order Monday delayed the ban, and he expressed interest in “a joint venture between current owners and/or new owners in which the United States gets 50% ownership.”

Many potential buyers have thrown their hats in the ring hoping to get a shot at TikTok’s 170 million users from billionaire Frank McCourt. Making a “people’s bid”. from Confusion AI is proposing a merger.

There was even a report suggesting that the Chinese government Considering selling to Elon Musk As part of a broader deal with the Trump administration. A TikTok spokesperson called the report “pure fiction”.

Meanwhile, there are alternative Chinese-owned apps like RedNote and Lemon8 Receive a boost As TikTok users look for alternatives. However, Lemon8 – which is owned by ByteDance – is among them Other apps that are now blocked.

This post has been updated to reflect Trump’s statement Sunday morning, as well as additional apps blocked by law.