House lawmakers have directed Apple and Google to prepare for TikTok's potential removal from their app stores by January 19, 2024, unless the social media platform separates from its Chinese parent company ByteDance.
Representatives John Moolenaar and Raja Krishnamoorthi sent letters to the CEOs of both tech giants, warning that continuing to host TikTok would become illegal if ByteDance fails to divest the platform. The directive stems from legislation signed by President Biden in April 2023, which mandates TikTok's sale to a non-foreign adversary company.
TikTok's legal attempts to challenge the ban have faced setbacks. A federal appeals court recently rejected the company's request to delay implementation until the Supreme Court could review the case. The court cited concerns about China's history of espionage and TikTok's potential influence on public opinion through its recommendation algorithm.
The social media platform, which serves approximately 170 million Americans, plans to appeal to the Supreme Court. TikTok argues the ban would silence millions of users' voices and maintains its commitment to protecting free speech rights.
Several potential buyers have emerged, including former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, who proposes transforming TikTok into a blockchain-based platform. However, reports suggest ByteDance might prefer shutting down U.S. operations over selling the app.
The timing of the deadline creates additional complexity, as it falls one day before President-elect Trump's inauguration. Trump, who initiated the original TikTok crackdown during his first term, has recently expressed opposition to the ban, suggesting it would benefit competitor Meta.
If implemented, the ban would make TikTok increasingly difficult to use in the United States, as companies would be prohibited from providing services to maintain or update the application through app marketplaces.