„TikTok“ will unfortunately be forced to cease operations in the US on January 19“ unless „the Joe Biden administration guarantees the non-implementation of the law“, which bans the platform in the US, if its Chinese owner does not agree to sell it, the popular application said today in a statement on the social network „Ex“, quoted by Agence France-Presse.
„TikTok“ has been fighting for months against the law, which was passed by Congress in March in the name of national security, but the US Supreme Court refused to block it yesterday, thus predetermining the fate of the social network in the country if the government does not intervene at the last minute.
“There can be no doubt that for more than 170 million Americans “TikTok“ offers an important means of expression, interaction and belonging to a community“, the nine justices of the Supreme Court unanimously said.“However, Congress has found that its divestiture was necessary to address its well-founded national security concerns“, they noted.“The decision of the highest US court came a little more than 36 hours before the deadline imposed by Congress on “TikTok“s Chinese parent company“ - “ByteDance“ to sell its subsidiary.
The law theoretically requires internet service providers and app stores to block downloads and updates of “TikTok“ from midnight tonight. The main companies contacted by AFP did not respond to requests for comment on the subject.
The White House believes that "the implementation of the law (should) be entrusted to the next administration, which takes office on Monday," spokeswoman Karin Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
The US Department of Justice, for its part, said today that the implementation of the law will take time, raising questions about its effect in the short term.
“The statements made today by the White House and the Department of Justice did not provide the necessary clarity and confidence to service providers who are integral to maintaining the accessibility of “TikTok“ for more than 170 million Americans,“ the popular app said, before warning that because of this “TikTok“ will almost certainly be forced to suspend its activities in the US from tomorrow.
US President-elect Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that he supports the preservation of the application in the US, and has even appealed to the Supreme Court with a request to this effect, but without result, AFP reports.
/АМ/
Source: www.bta.bg