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January 19, 2025 | 01:10 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - TikTok officially stopped operating in the United States (U.S.) on Saturday night and disappeared from the Apple and Google app stores. As reported by Reuters, this is hours before the law that takes effect on Sunday, January 19, 2025, requiring the closure of the app used by 170 million Americans.
President-elect Donald Trump said earlier that he would "most likely" grant TikTok a 90-day reprieve from the ban after he takes office on Monday, January 20, 2025. This is a promise that TikTok cited in a notice posted to users on the app.
TikTok, which is owned by China's ByteDance, told users who tried to use the app around 10:45 p.m. Saturday, "Laws prohibiting TikTok have been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you will not be able to use TikTok at this time. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to bring TikTok back after he takes office. Please stay tuned."
Other apps owned by ByteDance, including video editing app Capcut and lifestyle social app Lemon8, were also offline and unavailable in U.S. app stores on Saturday night.
"A 90-day extension is something that will probably be done, because it's appropriate," Trump told NBC. "If I decide to do that, I'll probably announce it on Monday."
TikTok users who logged in Saturday night were greeted with a message saying the law would "force us to make our service temporarily unavailable. We're working to restore our service in the United States as soon as possible."
It was unclear if any U.S. users were still able to access the app, but it was no longer working for many. Users trying to access it through the web app were greeted with the same message that TikTok was no longer working.
The Chinese-owned app, which has captivated nearly half of all Americans, supported small businesses and shaped online culture, said Friday it would cease operating in the U.S. on Sunday.
Unless President Joe Biden's administration provides assurances to companies like Apple and Google that they will not face enforcement action while the ban is in effect.
Under a law passed last year and upheld Friday by the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously, the platform has until Sunday to cut ties with its China-based parent, ByteDance, or shut down its U.S. operations to address concerns that it poses a national security threat.
The White House reiterated Saturday that it was up to the incoming administration to take action, raising the possibility of a Sunday shutdown.
“We see no reason for TikTok or any other company to take action in the coming days before the Trump administration takes office on Monday,” White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
TikTok did not respond to a request for comment on the new White House statement.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington on Friday accused the U.S. of using unfair state power to suppress TikTok. “China will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights and interests,” a spokesperson said.
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