The fate of 170 million TikTok users is now in the hands of President-elect Donald Trump.
On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the law that requires TikTok to be sold to a U.S. company or be banned by Sunday, January 19.
But, the White House said it would not enforce the law since Trump takes office the following day, leaving it up to the incoming president.
Trump has promised to “save” TikTok – though it’s unclear how he plans to do so.
A law, passed by Congress last year, requires TikTok to divest from its parent company, ByteDance, due to its proximity to the Chinese government. Lawmakers are concerned that China, a foreign adversary, could access Americans’ data and impede their privacy.
TikTok asked the Supreme Court to intervene, believing it was a violation of the First Amendment. The court disagreed.
While the law only requires that TikTok be taken down from Google and Apple app stores, TikTok has indicated that it will take itself offline completely. Though without an enforcement mechanism, it’s unclear if that will still happen.
Key Points
- Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban
- White House says TikTok should remain available – and shutdown will be up to Trump
- Biden will not enforce TikTok ban before leaving office, report says
- Here's how you can prepare for TikTok ban
TikTok says it will go dark on Sunday unless Biden intervenes
02:13 , Andrew GeorgesonTikTok has said it will go dark in the U.S. on Sunday unless the Biden administration guarantees that it won’t punish Apple, Google and other service privoders if they support the app.
They claimed that both the Biden White House and Department of Justice had failed to provide the “necessary clarity” to platforms that provide the app to over 170 million Americans.
“Unless the Biden Administration immediately provides a definitive statement to satisfy the most critical service providers assuring non-enforcement, unfortunately TikTok will be forced to go dark on January 19,” the statement on Friday read.
Sen. Tom Cotton reacts to Supreme Court decision: Court ‘correctly rejected TikTok’s lies and propaganda masquerading as legal arguments’
02:01 , Julia MustoByteDance and its Chinese Communist masters had nine months to sell TikTok before the Sunday deadline. The very fact that Communist China refuses to permit its sale reveals exactly what TikTok is: a communist spy app. The Supreme Court correctly rejected TikTok’s lies and…
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) January 17, 2025
Read the opinion: Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban-or-sale law
01:00 , Julia Musto
Read the opinion from the Supreme Court here.
AG Merrick Garland says the Supreme Court’s decision allows the DOJ to prevent China from ‘weaponizing’ TikTok
00:00 , Julia Musto
“The Court’s decision enables the Justice Department to prevent the Chinese government from weaponizing TikTok to undermine America’s national security,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.
“Authoritarian regimes should not have unfettered access to millions of Americans’ sensitive data. The Court’s decision affirms that this Act protects the national security of the United States in a manner that is consistent with the Constitution.”
Musk could buy TikTok without the algorithm, Wedbush Securities’ Dan Ives says
Friday 17 January 2025 23:00 , Julia MustoDan Ives, Wedbush Securities global head of tech research, said he believes Elon Musk could buy TikTok for $40 to $50 billion without the algorithm.
Tesla stock jumps amid speculation that Elon Musk could buy TikTok
Friday 17 January 2025 22:00 , Julia Musto
Tesla stock jumped 3 percent on Friday amid speculation that CEO Elon Musk could potentially buy TikTok, according to Yahoo Finance.
The social media platform needs to find a U.S. buyer.
Sen. Bernie Sanders says Supreme Court is ‘wrong’ on possible TikTok ban
Friday 17 January 2025 21:45 , Julia MustoYes. We must protect the privacy and data of the American people.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) January 17, 2025
Shutting down this entire platform is not the answer.
‘They called our bluff’: NYU professor Scott Galloway reacts to potential TikTok ban
Friday 17 January 2025 21:30 , Julia Musto"Feels like we've gone full oligarch:" NYU professor @profgalloway speaks with Anderson about tech CEOs cozying up to the incoming Trump administration and whether or not TikTok is likely to be banned in the coming days. pic.twitter.com/yOzGnS6GJ6
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) January 17, 2025
TikTok CEO thanks Trump for his support of the app
Friday 17 January 2025 21:22 , Julia MustoShou Chew, TikTok’s chief executive, posted a video to TikTok’s corporate account on Friday, thanking President-elect Donald Trump for his support of the app.
He called it “a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship.”
How TikTok grew from a fun app for teens into a potential national security threat
Friday 17 January 2025 21:15 , Julia Musto
How TikTok grew from a fun app for teens into a potential national security threat
Sotomayor disagrees with some of Supreme Court’s TikTok decision
Friday 17 January 2025 21:00 , Julia Musto
While the Supreme Court unanimously upheld a law requiring the sale or ban of the Chinese video app TikTok on Friday, Justice Sonia Sotomayor disagreed with part of the decision.
Sotomayor said she was “concurring in part and concurring in the judgment.”
“I join all but Part II.A of the Court’s per curiam opinion. I see no reason to assume without deciding that the Act implicates the First Amendment because our precedent leaves no doubt that it does,” she wrote.
That part discusses how the First Amendment applies to Congress’ law.
Here’s where to find these top creators after a potential TikTok ban
Friday 17 January 2025 20:43 , Julia Musto
Jimmy Donaldson, also known as MrBeast, has offered to buy TikTok with several billionaires. He’s the most followed YouTube account.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, an actor, is more popular on Instagram, with nearly 400 million followers. He also has a YouTube channel.
And, singer Billie Eilish has twice as many Instagram followers as she does on TikTok.
The K-pop mega stars of BTS are just as popular on Instagram and YouTube. They have 76 million and 79.6 million followers on the platforms, respectively.
Americans spend $7 million each day on TikTok Shop. So, what happens now?
Friday 17 January 2025 20:12 , Julia MustoAmericans spend $7 million shopping through TikTok every day, according to Vice News.
In 2023, they spent a whopping $67 billion. TikTok shop was only launched in the U.S. in September 2023.
The Chinese Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote, might stand to gain some of that business, the publication said.
What happens if the US bans TikTok?
Friday 17 January 2025 19:00 , Io DoddsBut what would happen next? Well, TikTok won’t suddenly vanish off your smartphone, but it will reportedly stop functioning. The company is preparing to “go dark” in the U.S., with all access to creating, viewing and sharing content (and the beloved For You page) gone— unless someone decides to throw it a last-minute lifeline.
Io Dodds reports:
Justice wrote the opinion unsigned
Friday 17 January 2025 18:30 , Ariana BaioToday’s opinion was written “per curiam” meaning the justices did not specify who wrote it, who agreed or who disagreed with it.Often, decisions that are made quickly – such as the decision in Trump’s 14th Amendment case – are written unsigned. The justices highlighted that in this opinion, telling people not to apply today’s decision too broadly because they acted very quickly
Supreme Court backs TikTok ban: App set to shut down Sunday
Friday 17 January 2025 18:00 , Ariana BaioMore than 170 million Americans could lose access to the widely popular social media platform TikTok beginning Sunday after the Supreme Court upheld the law that forces TikTok to divest from its parent company or be banned.
Read more here:
Biden says TikTok should remain available to Americans
Friday 17 January 2025 17:30 , Ariana BaioIn response to the Supreme Court’s ruling on TikTok, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that President Joe Biden believes the app “should remain available to Americans” but under new ownership to fall in line with the law from Congress.
Biden passed the buck to Trump saying the law “must fall to the next administration.”
Trump says he will ‘review’ the situation
Friday 17 January 2025 17:00 , Ariana BaioPresident-elect Donald Trump said he will “review the situation” with TikTok and make a decision “in the not too distant future” after the Supreme Court upheld the law that requires the social media platform to sell to a US company or be banned.
“The Supreme Court decision was expected, and everyone must respect it,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “My decision on TikTok will be made in the not too distant future, but I must have time to review the situation. Stay tuned!”
Trump previously said he will “save” TikTok.
First Amendment advocates blast Supreme Court ruling
Friday 17 January 2025 16:40 , Ariana BaioSeveral advocates for the First Amendment slammed the Supreme Court’s decision in the TikTok ban case on Friday, saying it was a “disheartening blow” to millions who use TikTok.
“Today marks a significant setback for the First Amendment and a disheartening blow to the millions of Americans who rely on TikTok to express themselves, share ideas, and engage with their communities,” Jacob Mchangama, the executive director of the Future of Free Speech said.
Mchangama said the precedent is “dangerous” and “could embolden Congress to further restrict online speech under the guise of national security.”
Jacob Heubert, the president of the Liberty Justice Center, said they were “disappointed” the Supreme Court upheld a “speculative” national security argument over Americans’ right to free speech.
“But the Court’s ruling today is at least narrow—it relies on the unique relationship between TikTok and its foreign parent, and it doesn’t opine on the parts of the law that would allow future presidents to ban other platforms they believe threaten national security,” Heubert said.
Trump gives vague answer on his plan for TikTok
Friday 17 January 2025 16:15 , Ariana BaioPresident-elect Donald Trump did not reveal what he will do with TikTok now that the fate the app lies in his hands but said he plans to make a decision.
“It ultimately goes up to me, so you’re going to see what I’m going to do,” Trump told CNN anchor Pamela Brown. “Congress has given me the decision, so I’ll be making the decision.”
--> @PamelaBrownCNN just spoke with Trump about TikTok. Trump was vague, saying "it ultimately goes up to me, so you're going to see what I'm going to do."
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) January 17, 2025
"Congress has given me the decision, so I'll be making the decision," he said, without providing details
White House says TikTok should remain available – and shutdown will be up to Trump
Friday 17 January 2025 15:33 , Andrew GriffinThe White House has released a statement saying that TikTok should remain available to all Americans, and that the implementation of the law is up to the next administration.
(As a reminder, the ban goes into effect on 19 January, and Donald Trump will be inaugurated on 20 January.)
That means the app will presumably not go dark on 19 January. And it might never: though Trump’s plans are unclear, there is plenty of reason to believe that he is looking at rolling back or at least delaying the ban.
“TikTok should remain available to Americans, but simply under American ownership or other ownership that addresses the national security concerns identified by Congress in developing this law,” the White House said in the new statement.
“Given the sheer fact of timing, this Administration recognizes that actions to implement the law simply must fall to the next Administration, which takes office on Monday.”
Supreme Court will not overrule TikTok ban
Friday 17 January 2025 15:04 , Andrew GriffinThe ban on TikTok will stand, the Supreme Court says. The law does not break the first amendment and therefore will not be overturned.
Donald Trump says he discussed TikTok with Xi Jinping
Friday 17 January 2025 15:00 , Andrew GriffinThe president-elect has held a phone call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which he says included a discussion of TikTok. He did not say what the nature of those discussions were.
“The call was a very good one for both China and the U.S.A. It is my expectation that we will solve many problems together, and starting immediately. We discussed balancing Trade, Fentanyl, TikTok, and many other subjects,” Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform.
“President Xi and I will do everything possible to make the World more peaceful and safe!”
Supreme Court opinions imminent
Friday 17 January 2025 14:37 , Andrew GriffinIn about half an hour, the Supreme Court is due to release opinions. That will happen at 10am local eastern time.
We don’t know for sure that it will cover TikTok, as it did not say which cases those will cover. And we definitely don’t know whether it will make a difference: during arguments last week, it seemed as if the court would probably uphold the law and thereby leave the TikTok ban in place.
What does the future hold for TikTok?
Friday 17 January 2025 13:08 , Andrew GriffinIf TikTok is banned, what does that mean for users both in the United States and across the world? This Q&A has a look at both.
Will Donald Trump save TikTok from Joe Biden? He’s going to try
Friday 17 January 2025 13:00 , John BowdenTrump sees halting the bipartisan TikTok ban as an easy way to show he’s delivering results. He’s probably right.
Read the analysis from John Bowden:
Will Donald Trump save TikTok from Joe Biden? He’s going to try
Chinese says it is not illegally collecting TikTok users’ data
Friday 17 January 2025 11:17 , Andrew GriffinThe Chinese government has denied accusations that it is illegally collecting user data. It “has never and will never” require companies or individuals to collect data for or provide data to it in a way that violates the law, the foreign ministry said on Friday.
The ministry spokesperson was responding to a question about six Chinese companies including TikTok, Shein, Xiaomi, which have been named in a privacy complaint filed by Austrian advocacy group Noyb claiming the firms were unlawfully sending European Union user data to China.
Republican senator says TikTok is ‘a Chinese communist spy app’
Friday 17 January 2025 11:00 , Ariana BaioRepublican Senator Tom Cotton opposed an effort to extend TikTok’s ban deadline, saying it posed too great of a threat to allow for any concessions or compromises.
“TikTok isn’t just another social media platform,” Cotton said. “TikTok is a Chinese Communist spy app that addicts our kids, harvests their data, targets them with harmful and manipulative and spreads Communist propoganda.”
His opposition was to Senator Ed Markey’s attempt to introduce legislation that would extend the deadline thus giving TikTok more time to work out a deal or at least allow President-elect Donald Trump to weigh-in.
“No extensions, no concession and no compromises for TikTok,” Cotton said.
Republican Senator Tom Cotton blocking an attempt by Senator Ed Markey to extend the deadline for TikTok:
— Acyn (@Acyn) January 16, 2025
Let me be crystal clear, there will be no extensions, no concessions, and no compromises for TikTok pic.twitter.com/XzLPfH755j
Sen. Chris Coons says he welcomes SCOTUS decision
Friday 17 January 2025 22:55 , Julia Musto
I welcome SCOTUS' decision to uphold a bipartisan bill protecting our national security. TikTok isn't just a social media app—it’s a tool used by the CCP to influence Americans' political views & conduct. ByteDance still has a chance to sell the app & keep it available in the US.
— Senator Chris Coons (@ChrisCoons) January 17, 2025
Is TikTok’s Chinese alternative any safer than the app facing a potential US ban?
Friday 17 January 2025 09:00 , Athena StavrouChina-based RedNote has experienced a huge surge in downloads from users in the US and worldwide as the 19 January deadline for the US TikTok ban approaches.
The app, a mix of Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest, is one of the most popular in China and reached the top spot in the UK app download charts this week. Those migrating to the platform, officially called Xiaohongshu, or “Little Red Book,” have been warmly welcomed. Chinese and Western users collaborate on the app, teaching each other English or Mandarin, helping with homework, or sharing jokes about the looming TikTok ban.
Like TikTok, RedNote is owned by a Chinese company, Xingyin Information Technology. Chartered security expert James Bore says that, like most social media platforms, RedNote prioritises growth and engagement over user privacy. However, the platform’s governance under Chinese law sets it apart.
“The difference is that China has a law that the government must have a stake in companies,” he told The Independent. “This is not a secret, it’s written into Chinese law so that they can overrule things and make sure there’s nothing that threatens the Chinese state. That’s a level of interference in companies that we’re not really used to in the West.”
Cybersecurity expert Rob Pritchard added: “I doubt there is a particular risk to individuals, but the broader implications are interesting. It’s not the effect the US government wanted to achieve, I’m sure.”
When users sign up for RedNote, they must accept terms and conditions presented only in Mandarin, leaving many unaware of what they’re agreeing to.
“I saw the terms and conditions for this app and I just clicked it. I didn’t even try to read that,” said new RedNote user Kelsey Higginbottom in a clip.
TikTok refugees welcomed by alternative Chinese apps ahead of ban
Friday 17 January 2025 07:00 , Anthony CuthbertsonTikTok users in the US have reported receiving a warm welcome on other Chinese-owned apps amid a looming ban on the hugely popular social media platform.
China-based Lemon8 and RedNote have both experienced a surge in downloads from US users as the 19 January deadline for the TikTok ban approaches, each topping the app charts.
Anthony Cuthbertson reports:
TikTok refugees welcomed by alternative Chinese apps ahead of ban
Watch: Democrat leader promise to work with Trump administration on TikTok
Friday 17 January 2025 05:00 , Ariana BaioIt’s clear that more time is needed to find an American buyer for TikTok.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) January 16, 2025
We will continue working to keep TikTok alive, protect content creators’ livelihoods, protect against CCP surveillance, and protect national security.
I will work with the Trump Admin to find a solution. pic.twitter.com/mTRvmGoeUb
TikTok influencer reacts to potential ban: ‘It might be great. It might be awful.’
Friday 17 January 2025 03:00 , Kaleigh WernerAs President Biden signs the TikTok ban bill into law, giving the app’s China-based parent company nine months to sell, fashion influencer Bridget Brown explains uncertainty she feels around the future of her career.
Read more from Kaleigh Werner:
TikTok influencer reacts to potential ban: ‘It might be great. It might be awful.’
Biden will not enforce TikTok ban, AP reports
Friday 17 January 2025 01:41 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Joe Biden does not plan to enforce the ban on TikTok that is set to take effect Sunday, the last full day of his presidency, according to a Thursday night report from the Associated Press.
This means the fate of the app will be in President-elect Donald Trump’s hands when he takes office on Monday, January 20.
“Our interpretation of the law that Congress passed is that absent a credible plan from the company on how they will divest, the President does not have statutory authority to trigger the 90 day extension,” a senior White House official told Politico. “The company has not only not advanced such a plan, they have signaled they have no intention of selling it to an American owner.”
“Given the timing of when it goes into effect over a holiday weekend a day before inauguration, it will be up to the next administration to implement,” the official added.
Biden administration unlikely to intervene before Sunday
Friday 17 January 2025 01:00 , Ariana BaioThough lawmakers have tried to lobby President Joe Biden to sign a 90-day extension to the TikTok ban, preventing the popular platform from going dark, the White House signaled it won’t do so.
“Our position on this has been clear: TikTok should continue to operate under American ownership. Given the timing of when it goes into effect over a holiday weekend a day before inauguration, it will be up to the next administration to implement,” a White House official told ABC News.
TikTok CEO to attend Trump’s inauguration as app’s fate hangs in the balance
Thursday 16 January 2025 23:00 , Ariana BaioTikTok CEO Shou Chew may not have a social media platform to run by Sunday but he is still invited to, and expected to attend, Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration on Monday in Washington D.C.
Read more here:
TikTok CEO to attend Trump’s inauguration as app’s fate hangs in the balance
Preparing to flee TikTok, users begin learning Mandarin
Thursday 16 January 2025 22:20 , Ariana BaioDuolingo has seen a 216 percent increase in the number of users learning Mandarin compared to this time last year – a sign that young people are willing to learn the language that is widely spoken on platforms alternative to TikTok.
RedNote (Xiaohongshu) has exploded in popularity due to the looming TikTok ban. But it’s designed for a Chinese audience, so the app’s default language is Mandarin Chinese. This has apparently prompted people to learn some of the language so they can use the app.
Learning Mandarin out of spite? You're not alone.
— Duolingo (@duolingo) January 15, 2025
We’ve seen a ~216% growth in new Chinese (Mandarin) learners in the US compared to this time last year. https://t.co/9hzwBxfTgD pic.twitter.com/qWM9f5oFYA
Supreme Court will announce opinions at 10am on Friday
Thursday 16 January 2025 21:42 , Ariana BaioThe Supreme Court is expected to announce at least one opinion at 10 a.m. on Friday – which could potentially be a decision in the TikTok ban case.
The court does not reveal what cases they are making a decision on ahead of time but they signaled they wanted to intervene in the TikTok dispute before the ban takes effect on Sunday, January 19.
The decision will be posted to the Supreme Court’s opinion page.
‘TikTok’s owners had plenty of time’: Republicans push back on attempts to extend deadline
Thursday 16 January 2025 21:00 , Ariana BaioRepublicans blocked legislation that would give TikTok more time to secure a buyer, or at the very least, allow President-elect Donald Trump to handle the potential ban.
“TikTok’s owners had plenty of time to find a buyer. And there were plenty of willing buyers as well,” Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas said after blocking Democrat Senator Ed Markey’s attempt.
TikTok had nine months from the passage of legislation to divest from ByteDance, a Chinese company.
Democrat Senators ask Biden to extend deadline by 90 days
Thursday 16 January 2025 20:20 , Ariana BaioDemocrat Senators Ed Markey of Connecticut and Cory Booker of New Jersey said they have asked President Joe Biden to extend TikTok’s deadline by 90 days to give the social media platform more time to work out a deal.
“In no way should we have TikTok go dark Sunday,” Markey said, according to a report. “It would be catastrophic for so many creators.”
Markey and Booker are among the 60 Senators who voted in favor of the legislation that forces TikTok to be sold or banned by January 19.
The senators are asking Biden to enact the 90-day extension that is a provision of the legislation. Doing so would keep TikTok alive until President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Trump has promised to “save” TikTok.
Democrat leader in Senate fights to extend TikTok ban deadline
Thursday 16 January 2025 19:40 , Ariana Baio“We aren’t against TikTok. We Want TikTok to keep going,” Senator Chuck Schumer, the Senate Minority Leader, told reporters on Thursday. “But we are against a Chinese company that is in cahoots with the Chinese Communist Party owning TikTok.”
It was an ironic point of clarification from the Senator, whose party has been trying to extend the TikTok ban so the popular social media platform doesn’t go dark on Sunday.
Schumer was among the 60 senators who voted in favor of passing the legislation last April which forced TikTok to be sold or become inoperable in the U.S.
But they’ve seemingly softened their stance on TikTok – now trying to save young people from losing access to their favorite social media platform.
“TikTok should survive but under new ownership,” Schumer added.
Schumer called out his Republican colleagues for “blocking” their attempts to push the legislation on Wednesday.
Is RedNote any safer than the app facing a potential US ban?
Thursday 16 January 2025 19:15 , Athena StavrouThe app, a mix of Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest, is one of the most popular in China and reached the top spot in the UK app download charts this week. Those migrating to the platform, officially called Xiaohongshu, or “Little Red Book,” have been warmly welcomed. Chinese and Western users collaborate on the app, teaching each other English or Mandarin, helping with homework, or sharing jokes about the looming TikTok ban.
Athena Stavrou reports:
Biden admin ‘exploring options’ and the app might not be gone Sunday
Thursday 16 January 2025 18:40 , Gustaf KilanderThe outgoing Joe Biden administration is “exploring options” to make sure that TikTok remains available in the U.S. even if Sunday’s ban moves forward, three people familiar with the discussions told NBC News.
“Americans shouldn’t expect to see TikTok suddenly banned on Sunday,” one official said, telling the network that the administration is looking at ways to implement the law without the app going offline.
Deputy White House Chief of Staff Bruce Reed has been fielding calls from those pushing the president to stop a ban from going into effect, two people familiar told NBC.
If the administration stops the ban, the issue will be adjudicated by the incoming administration, which takes the reins following Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday.
More celebrities call on politicians to help TikTok
Thursday 16 January 2025 18:00 , Ariana BaioJack Schlossberg, the grandson of former president John F. Kennedy, suggested former president Barack Obama should “buy” TikTok and that he would assist in the purchase if necessary.
“Why is no one on our side trying to buy ?? Obama, buy TikTok dude !! Wtf I’ll help,” Schlossberg wrote.
Schlossberg has TikTok to credit for some of his rise to prominence over the last year. However, it is unlikely Schlossberg and Obama could purchase the social media platform as its predicted value is in the billions.
Hey @BarackObama BUY TIKTOK DUDE !!
— Jack Schlossberg (@JBKSchlossberg) January 16, 2025
why is no one on our side trying to buy ??
Obama, buy TikTok dude !! Wtf I’ll help
Trump national security adviser says president-elect is hoping to save TikTok
Thursday 16 January 2025 17:15 , Ariana BaioMike Waltz, an incoming national security adviser, told Fox & Friends on Thursday that Donald Trump is actively looking for ways to prevent TikTok from “going dark” while also protecting U.S. data.
“President Trump, and this is in line with the legislation, we will put measures in place to keep TikTok from going dark. The legislation allows for an extension as long as a viable deal is on the table, and essentially, that buys President Trump time to keep TikTok going. It’s been a great platform for him and his campaign to get this America First message out but at the same time, he wants to protect their data,” Waltz said.
incoming Trump national security adviser Mike Waltz: "We will put measures in place to keep TikTok from going dark ... it's been a great platform for him and his campaign to get his America First message out." pic.twitter.com/qrkQbi3Ur4
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 16, 2025
TikTok alternative Rednote has issues of its own
Thursday 16 January 2025 15:43 , Andrew GriffinAhead of the ban, TikTok users are heading to rival Rednote in droves. (It has led to its own funny cultural exchange and interactions between the Chinese users who have been on there for a while and the Americans who are fleeing to it, which you can read about here.)
But Rednote might have its own problems. It too is Chinese owned, and there is limited information about how it might be using data. Indeed, CBS News is reporting that it could be banned under the same rules as TikTok.
“This appears to be the kind of app that the statute would apply to and could face the same restrictions as TikTok if it’s not divested,” CBS said that it had been told by an unnamed US official.
The law that banned TikTok is called the “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act”. While it does mention TikTok explicitly, it also (as its name suggests) covers other apps from China and other countries such as Iran.
TikTok boss will go to Trump’s inauguration
Thursday 16 January 2025 14:27 , Andrew GriffinShou Chew, TikTok’s chief executive, will attend the inauguration of Donald Trump, according to the New York Times. What’s more, he’ll be given a special seat in a position of honour.
That gives further credence to suggestions that the ban might be overturned by Donald Trump – who has done well on the platform, and is said to be racing with Joe Biden to find a solution to the block. But Trump does not come into power until Monday, and the deadline is up on Sunday, so Trump might not be able to act in time even if he does want to.
TikTok hit by privacy complaint – in Europe
Thursday 16 January 2025 12:57 , Andrew GriffinAs TikTok deals with the looming deadline on Sunday, it has been hit by more criticism – this time in Europe. It along with five other Chinese services are part of an EU privacy complaint.
Here’s the latest from Reuters:
TikTok, Shein, Xiaomi and three other Chinese companies were named in a privacy complaint filed on Thursday by Austrian advocacy group Noyb which claimed the firms were unlawfully sending European Union user data to China.
Noyb is known for filing complaints against American companies such as Apple, Alphabet and Meta , which has led to several investigations and billions of dollars in fines.
Vienna-based Noyb (None Of Your Business) said this is their first complaint against Chinese firms.
Noyb has filed six complaints in four European countries for suspension of data transfers to China and is seeking fines that can reach up to 4% of a firm’s global revenue.
Noyb said Alibaba’s e-commerce site AliExpress, retailer Shein, TikTok and phone maker Xiaomi admit to sending Europeans’ personal data to China, while retailer Temu and Tencent’s messenger app WeChat transfer data to undisclosed “third countries” likely China.
Under European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) privacy regime, data transfers outside the EU are only allowed if the destination country doesn’t undermine the protection of data.
“Given that China is an authoritarian surveillance state, it is crystal clear that China doesn’t offer the same level of data protection as the EU,” said Kleanthi Sardeli, a data protection lawyer at Noyb. “Transferring Europeans’ personal data is clearly unlawful,“ and must be terminated immediately.
Chinese companies, notably ByteDance-owned TikTok, have been facing off with regulators in various countries. TikTok is planning to shut its app for U.S. users from Sunday, when a federal ban on the social media app is due to come into effect.
The European Commission is also investigating TikTok over its suspected failure to limit election interference, notably in the Romanian presidential vote in November.
How the ban will actually work – and why you might not be able to find a way around it
Thursday 16 January 2025 12:52 , Andrew GriffinAs the deadline approaches, we’re getting more of a sense of how the ban might actually work. It’s likely to be deeper and wider than some had previously thought, experts have suggested.
Here, from Reuters, is a look at how it might actually function:
The law will not force users to delete the app. But TikTok plans to shut down the service and will show users a message about the law and offer to let them download their personal data, Reuters previously reported.
Even if TikTok was not planning a formal shutdown, the app would not work as well as it did before. App store providers are explicitly barred from distributing TikTok to U.S. users, which means that Apple and Alphabet’s Google will remove the app from their stores and will no longer distribute updates to fix bugs. The TikTok app also relies on a constant flow of new videos, which would become nearly impossible to deliver. TikTok data for U.S. users is hosted and processed on servers owned by Oracle , which most experts believe Oracle would have to cease those operations.
Oracle, Apple, Google and TikTok all either declined to comment or did not return requests for comment.
Beyond that, analyses have shown that more than 100 other service providers, such as content delivery networks, help make TikTokoperate smoothly.
“Some subset of that stuff that is required for the app to actually work, both in terms of getting video to you, but also in terms of getting video and content up,” said Joseph Lorenzo Hall, a distinguished technologist with nonprofit group Internet Society. “And so uploading might be one of the first things to go. Americans may only be able to watch as their app rots.” The disengagement of those service providers could also affect tens of millions of TikTok users outside the U.S., but company engineers are working to address those issues, sources told Reuters.
The most straightforward workaround to keep access to TikTok would be to use a virtual private network, or VPN, which can conceal the internet protocol, or IP, address of a user and thereby their location.
But TikTok has other means of knowing where the user is located, such as geolocation data from a phone, said Jason Kelley, director of activism for the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Users could try to access a web-based version of TikTok via a browser while using a VPN, but the web version lacks many features of the app and - if the user has to create a new account - would not be as personalized to the user’s preferences.
“It won’t be a good service for you, and it won’t be a profitable service for them,” Kelley said.
Some users have discussed steps such as switching an iPhone’s country settings to another country in a bid to keep using the app. But that would require cancelling existing app subscriptions and setting up a new payment method for that country, according to Apple documentation.
It is enough of a hassle that it may be easier to purchase a separate phone dedicated to the app, leading Hall to joke that the law could result in “Congress forcing the influencer population to carry two phones, just like most of them do.”
But even switching an iPhone’s settings to a different country is not a straightforward fix. The law bars Apple and other app store providers from delivering the TikTok app to users in the United States regardless of how their devices are configured, so a user would still have to leave the United States to download TikTok.
Trump claims he’ll ‘save’ TikTok - despite trying to get it banned while in office
Thursday 16 January 2025 12:00 , Vishwam SankaranDonald Trump has claimed he would “save TikTok in America,” a far cry from the days of 2020 when he sought to ban the social media platform via an executive order.
“For all of those who want to save TikTok in America, vote Trump,” the former president said in a video posted to his own Truth Social platform in January. “The other side is closing it up. But I’m now a big star on TikTok...We’re not doing anything with TikTok, but the other side is going to close it up.”
The message appears to refer to the Biden administration signing a bill in April that would force the parent company of the popular app to sell TikTok or face a ban in the US.
Trump’s message may be an attempt to win support from crucial youth voters, and it certainly represents a dramatic change from his past stance on the app.
What is Lemon8? The TikTok alternative gaining popularity that may also face a ban
Thursday 16 January 2025 11:00 , Vishwam SankaranByteDance launched Lemon8 in Japan in 2020, and it’s seen a steady increase in popularity, hitting the U.S. market in February 2023.
It’s dominated by lifestyle content. Posts highlighted on the app’s homepage include, “How to become a 5 am girly” and “How to save $500 in a month.”
At the start of this year, it was ranked the number one free app on Apple’s app store.
The app’s U.S. downloads increased 340 percent between June and August last year compared to 2023, according to data compiled by market research company Sensor Tower.
By comparison, TikTok grew 20 percent year-over-year during the same period, according to the research.
With the looming threat of the TikTok ban, ByteDance started to ramp up its advertising efforts with Lemon8 by targeting influencers and paying stars to post about the alternative app, the Wrap reported last year.
Meta and Google could gain from TikTok ban
Thursday 16 January 2025 09:30 , Vishwam SankaranMeta and Google stand to gain from a US TikTok ban, according to new analysis by market research firm eMarketer.
TikTok’s growth in the US had affected Google and Meta, which together owned over half of the advertising business in the US.
If the ban takes effect, most of the ad dollars spent on TikTok in the US could go to platforms owned by Meta and Google, such as Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
Instagram has already been successful in copying TikTok’s short video format through the launch of Reels.
However, Oxford economics professor Vili Lehdonvirta says curbing TikTok in the US may inspire the European Union to attempt something similar against Meta’s platforms.
TikTok may get 270 day extension
Thursday 16 January 2025 09:00 , Vishwam SankaranTikTok may get some relief if a new bill extending its 19 January deadline for a sale is approved by the US Congress.
Senator Ed Markey said on Monday that he plans to introduce the Extend the TikTok Deadline Act, which would give the company an extra 270 days to divest from its Chinese parent company ByteDance.
While this bill would not overturn the initial bill, it could give TikTok more time to make a deal.
How ban could affect businesses
Thursday 16 January 2025 08:30 , Vishwam SankaranTikTok is known to drive consumer purchasing behaviour through its personalised content.
The platform claims to have contributed $24bn to the US economy in 2023, according to a report TikTok published along with Oxford Economics last year.
“A TikTok ban could disrupt marketing strategies for businesses that rely on its algorithm and viral trends to reach their target markets, forcing a shift to less effective channels,” marketing professor Ayalla Ruvio from Michigan State University said.
Small businesses and influencers may face “significant economic losses”, according to the marketing expert, who says TikTok has become key for affordable, high-engagement advertising.
Such small firms would now have to find alternatives and rebuild visibility on other platforms, she says.
Watch: Which countries have banned TikTok?
Thursday 16 January 2025 08:00 , Ariana BaioCan users still access some videos?
Thursday 16 January 2025 07:30 , Vishwam SankaranTikTok allows users to save videos or photos they have posted or any content on the app from their favourite influencers to be downloaded on their phones.
However, the content of private TikTok accounts or posts from those under 16 years of age cannot be downloaded.
TikTok also allows users to request a copy of their TikTok data, including their comments and video-watching history, which may take the company a few days to prepare and send.
Will sideloading be an option to still download app?
Thursday 16 January 2025 07:00 , Vishwam SankaranInitially, it was believed that with a ban on Sunday, TikTok would be removed from Google’s Play Store and Apple’s App Store.
While it was thought sideloading, or downloading the app from other online sources, would offer users a way to skirt the ban, it now appears the app may become completely nonfunctional in the US altogether.
A TikTok attorney explained last week that the act means “all of the other types of service providers can’t provide service either.”
“So essentially, what they’re going to say is that I think, ‘we’re not going to be providing the services necessary to have you see it.’ So it’s essentially going to stop operating. I think that’s the consequence of this law,” the attorney told CNN.
This could mean ByteDance would make TikTok completely unavailable in the US once the ban takes effect.
US justices' rationale to ban TikTok explained
Thursday 16 January 2025 06:30 , Vishwam SankaranBoth conservative and liberal US Supreme Court justices seemed to agree with warnings by the US solicitor general that China could use data collected from Americans for nefarious reasons.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh warned that TikTok under Chinese ownership could use data from American teenagers to blackmail them or turn them into spies, posing a national security threat.
The justices also seemed to agree that the ban was not against First Amendment rights.
They reasoned that the ban does not apply as long as TikTok’s Chinese parent company ByteDance transferred ownership and operation of the app to an American-based entity.
Some justices proposed that less drastic actions taken could be taken to protect national security such as posting warnings on the app to alert users that their data could be shared and used by communist China, or forbidding TikTok from collecting personal data on Americans.
“The wild card is president-elect Donald Trump, who is poised to take office on 20 January,” according to law professor Nancy Costello at Michigan State University.
“He has said TikTok should not be shut down because some speech that gets posted is disfavoured,” Costello, an expert on First Amendment law, said.
How TikTok ban could impact US economy
Thursday 16 January 2025 06:00 , Vishwam SankaranMany small businesses have relied on TikTok to make money.
“As both a free and paid marketing tool for businesses, TikTok helps drive tens of billions of dollars in revenue, supports hundreds of thousands of US jobs, and provides countless opportunities for business owners to thrive,” TikTok notes on its website.
TikTok estimated last year that it supported about 224,000 jobs across 7 million small businesses in the US by allowing them to connect with their consumer base, although experts say this number must be taken with a pinch of salt.
The platform said it added $24 billion to the US economy in a report it published along with Oxford Economics last year.
“TikTok is an especially important channel for small businesses catering to fast-moving trends, partly through TikTok Shop, the platform’s e-commerce platform,” Oxford economics professor Vili Lehdonvirta said.
“Shop generated $1.1bn in gross merchandise revenue (GMR) in the US” in 2023, according to Dr Lehdonvirta.
TikTok ban is unconstitutional, says ACLU
Thursday 16 January 2025 05:30 , Vishwam SankaranIf upheld, the ban on TikTok endangers the constitutional rights of all Americans to speak and receive information online, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
“Banning TikTok is unprecedented, unconstitutional, and un-American,” the civil rights nonprofit said in a blog post.
It said there is no evidence yet flagged by the US Department of Justice that China is covertly manipulating TikTok’s content in the US.
The nonprofit claims the first justification to ban the app is due to fear of Chinese government propaganda, adding that the US government simply cannot ban speech it dislikes.
ACLU cited a 1965 court decision to strike down a law requiring the US postmaster general to detain “communist political propaganda”.
By this rule such letters could only be delivered to recipients after they specifically requested it from the US post office.
The US court reasoned that even this “mere burden” was an unconstitutional effort to “control the flow of ideas to the public.”
ACLU also reasoned that the US government hasn’t pointed to any actual or imminent national security threat from the data collected by TikTok.
Neither has it explained how TikTok’s data collection differs from that of other companies, it said.
“Chinese government, or other foreign entities, can purchase Americans’ personal data on the open market,” ACLU noted.
“If the Supreme Court allows the government to shut down an entire platform on such a flimsy evidentiary record, it would set a disturbing precedent for future government restrictions on online speech,” the civil rights nonprofit said.
‘We are witnessing a moment’: RedNote users in China welcome TikTok refugees
Thursday 16 January 2025 05:00 , Ariana BaioTikTok users in the US have reported receiving a warm welcome on other Chinese-owned apps amid a looming ban on the hugely popular social media platform.
China-based Lemon8 and RedNote have both experienced a surge in downloads from US users as the 19 January deadline for the TikTok ban approaches, each topping the app charts.
Anthony Cuthbertson reports:
TikTok refugees welcomed by alternative Chinese apps ahead of ban
Here's how you can prepare for TikTok ban
Thursday 16 January 2025 04:30 , Vishwam SankaranThe most commonly cited workaround to the eventual ban is using VPN, or virtual private network, which allows users to mask their location.
People may still be able to access their TikTok accounts by using a VPN and with other small changes to their phone’s settings, according to ExpressVPN’s director of communications Lauren Hendry Parsons.
“The looming US ban highlights why VPNs matter – millions rely on them for secure, private, and unrestricted access to the internet,” Switzerland-based ProtonVPN said in a post on X, adding however that it does not endorse TikTok.
Users may also be able to continue to update the app via third-party app stores online but this may make them more vulnerable to malware, telecommunications expert Gus Hurwitz from University of Pennsylvania told the Associated Press.
How TikTok ban could take effect in US
Thursday 16 January 2025 04:00 , Vishwam SankaranTikTok attorney Noel Francisco told the US Supreme Court that the app will likely “shut down” and “go dark” on Sunday.
A similar thing happened in India in 2020 when TikTok just shut down one evening after a ban took effect with its 200 million users and brands suddenly unable to access the platform one evening.
Another likely option is for TikTok content to be viewable for users without them being able to post.
In this scenario, those with the app on their devices will not receive updates, and the platform could become unavailable for new downloads in the US.
Looking back at Congress’ attitude toward TikTok:
Thursday 16 January 2025 03:30 , Vishwam SankaranMembers of the House Energy and Commerce committee signaled their hostility towards TikTok and other Chinese companies on Thursday as the panel’s GOP majority accused the Los Angeles- and Singapore-based company of being un-American.
The attack was led by the committee’s Republican majority, empowered by their November takeover of the lower chamber and eager to capitalise on what little political momentum they have (thanks to a narrow defeat of the Democrats) with a new harder-than-ever line against China and its ruling Communist Party.
John Bowden reported:
Congress attacks TikTok at CEO’s hearing: ‘Control, surveillance and manipulation’
Expert warns of potential risk in migrating to RedNote
Thursday 16 January 2025 02:56 , Vishwam SankaranWith many TikTok users in the US migrating to the Chinese social media platform RedNote, cybersecurity expert Adrianus Warmenhoven at NordVPN warned that this shift could come with “serious cybersecurity and privacy risks”.
“Like TikTok, RedNote is subject to Chinese data laws, which may grant government authorities access to user data without the privacy protections expected in the US,” Mr Warmenhoven said.
He said RedNote may also collect users’ personal data, including location and browsing activity and share this data with third-party service providers or government authorities.
“A major red flag is the app’s lack of transparency — its terms and conditions are mainly in Mandarin, leaving non-Chinese-speaking users unclear about what data is collected and how it’s used,” the cybersecurity expert said.
When will the Supreme Court rule on the TikTok ban?
Thursday 16 January 2025 01:00 , Ariana BaioThe Supreme Court has until Sunday to rule in the TikTok ban case before the law takes effect and millions of U.S. users lose access to the popular social media platform but they can issue a decision at any given time.
The court signaled they plan to intervene in the case before the deadline – they’ve fast-tracked oral arguments and cited the deadline as a reason for this.
The court had allocated Wednesday morning to release opinions but this did not include TikTok. Because the case arrived on the court’s “emergency docket” – or cases that need to be decided quickly – the court can rule at any time, not just on allocated opinion days.
Trump considering executive order to ‘save’ TikTok: report
Wednesday 15 January 2025 23:00 , Ariana BaioPresident-elect Donald Trump is reportedly considering issuing an executive order that would pause enforcement of the TikTok sale for 60 to 90 days when he returns to office, according to a recent Washington Post report.
Trump, who once advocated for the ban of TikTok, has promised to “save” it from being taken off U.S. app and web servers which would essentially render it unusable.
Assuming the Supreme Court rules that the ban is constitutional, Trump could take office the day after the ban is enacted and issue the executive order reversing it. Two people familiar with the deliberations told The Post.
However, it is unclear if the executive order could bypass the Congress-approved legislation. Most likely, he would face legal challenges.
TikTok would “go dark” on Sunday if the Supreme Court does not intervene, the platform said, according to reports.
Where is TikTok banned in the world?
Wednesday 15 January 2025 22:00 , Ariana Baio, Anthony CuthbertsonSeveral other regions and countries have enacted partial bans on government or military devices, including the UK, EU, Canada and Australia.
It comes four years after India issued a total ban on the China-owned app, with Iran, Senegal, Nepal, Afghanistan and Somalia also preventing their citizens from using the app. The app is also unavailable in China, meaning more than 3 billion people around the world are unable to access TikTok.
What are the national security risks that TikTok poses
Wednesday 15 January 2025 21:30 , Ariana BaioThe government argues that TikTok poses a threat to U.S. national security due to its proximity to the Chinese government – which is considered a foreign adversary.
TikTok itself is a company based in the U.S. but its parent company, ByteDance, is based in Beijing. Under Chinese law, any Chinese company must establish an in-house Communist Party committee composed of party members.
That, is where the link between TikTok and the Chinese government lies.
In theory, if the Chinese government asked ByteDance to hand over data acquired by TikTok, the company would have to comply.
