TikTok blacked out in the US

TikTok has been blacked out in the US as a result of a federal law banning the popular short-form video app for millions of Americans.

TikTok users started receiving messages about the ban around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, and the app also disappeared from the Apple and Google Play app stores.

“Sorry, TikTok is currently unavailable,” the company’s message said. “The law banning TikTok has been passed in the United States. Unfortunately, this means you can’t use TikTok for now.”

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

The company warned earlier this week that the app’s disappearance was imminent, “it will be dark” on friday Unless President Joe Biden’s administration makes a “firm statement” that it will not implement the ban.

A two-party majority House and Senate Last April, TikTok owner ByteDance passed a law requiring it to sell the app or face a US ban over concerns about potential Chinese surveillance and propaganda. Biden quickly signs the bill into law. And while making an effort Force ByteDance to give up Back to the first Trump administration, it has taken on a different tone lately. Trump He asked the Supreme Court to postpone the ban and said he would “most likely” 90 day extension to the company.

The Supreme Court issued a decision Observing the law on Friday; and the Biden administration seemed inclined to do so leave the fate of the program up to the next president. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre noted that with the law taking effect Monday, just before Trump’s inauguration, “actions to implement the law should simply be left to the next Administration.” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco issued a similar statement, saying that “the next phase of this effort – implementing and enforcing the law after it goes into effect on January 19 – will be an ongoing process.”

However, TikTok suggested that unless the Biden administration makes the aforementioned “definitive statement,” that’s not enough for “critical service providers” to continue listing or hosting the app in the US. Jean-Pierre called TikTok’s response a “catch-up” and argued that “there is no reason for TikTok or other companies to act just days before the Trump administration takes office on Monday.”

Stunt or not, TikTok doesn’t exist yet.

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

Trump He repeated to NBC News on Saturday he will “most likely” grant a 90-day reprieve from the ban on TikTok after taking office on Monday.

“I think that would certainly be an option that we look at. A 90 day extension is something that will likely be done because it is appropriate. You know, it fits. We have to look at it carefully. This is a very big situation,” Trump said in his speech.

sunday morning He wrote that he will give orders It suspended the ban on Monday and said it was also interested in “a joint venture between current owners and/or new owners in which the United States acquires 50% ownership.”

Many potential buyers have thrown their hats into the ring, hoping that billionaire Frank McCourt will hit TikTok’s 170 million users. to make a “people’s offer”. for Confusion AI suggests fusion.

There was even a report suggesting that the Chinese government did He is 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 Chinese-owned alternative apps like RedNote and Lemon8 got a boost As TikTok users look for alternatives. However, ByteDance-owned Lemon8 is among them other apps that are now blocked.

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