TikTok ceased operations in the United States just hours before a legislated ban was scheduled to take effect. Users accessing the platform were notified that recently enacted legislation prevented TikTok usage.
The message referenced President-elect Trump’s potential intervention, stating, “We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office.”
The platform’s shutdown followed its earlier warning of going offline unless the outgoing Biden administration provided assurances against ban enforcement. Trump, set to assume office Monday, indicated he would “most likely” grant TikTok a 90-day extension from the ban.
Users reported TikTok’s removal from U.S. Apple and Google app stores, while TikTok.com stopped displaying video content. The White House, through Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, stated the incoming administration would be responsible for further action.
The Supreme Court recently upheld the April 2023 legislation requiring ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based parent company, to sell the platform by Sunday or face a U.S. ban. TikTok has challenged the law, citing free speech concerns for its 170 million American users.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, expected at Trump’s inauguration, expressed gratitude for Trump’s willingness to seek a resolution. Content creators used their final hours on the platform to bid farewell to followers. Creator Nicole Bloomgarden mentioned the significant financial impact, while Erika Thompson emphasized the loss of educational content for the community.
Users received a final notification explaining the temporary service interruption due to legal requirements, with TikTok promising to work toward service restoration.
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TikTok ceased operations in the United States just hours before a legislated ban was scheduled to take effect. Users accessing the platform were notified that recently enacted legislation prevented TikTok usage. The message referenced President-elect Trump's potential intervention, stating, "We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office." The platform's shutdown followed its earlier warning of going offline unless the outgoing Biden administration provided assurances against ban enforcement. Trump, set to assume office Monday, indicated he would "most likely" grant TikTok a 90-day extension from the ban. Users reported TikTok's removal from U.S. Apple and Google app stores, while TikTok.com stopped displaying video content. The White House, through Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, stated the incoming administration would be responsible for further action. The Supreme Court […]
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