TikTok is preparing to shut down its platform on Sunday in the United States, which would go further than the requirements of the law passed in the American Congress, which was only to prevent its downloading in the country, The Information website reported on Wednesday. Requested by AFP, the social network did not respond.
As of Sunday, users who have already downloaded the application will no longer be able to open it and will be automatically directed to a message relating to the new legislative provisions, according to The Information. They will be offered to download their data and content published on the platform.
What the law provides
In April 2024, Congress adopted a text forcing TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell its American activities by January 19, under penalty of banning the social network in the United States. The law plans, if executed, to oblige internet providers and application stores to prevent TikTok from being downloaded after the deadline. American elected officials justified the vote on this law by fears of seeing the data and content of American users exploited by the Chinese authorities, suspected of using the platform as a spying tool.
TikTok and ByteDance have always refuted having granted access to the social network’s data to the Chinese government and assured that they never received a request to this effect. ByteDance has so far systematically refused to sell TikTok, even if several American investors have positioned themselves, first and foremost businessman Frank McCourt, ready to put $20 billion on the table.
TikTok appealed to the Supreme Court in December to invalidate the law. The decision from the highest American court is expected any day now.
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