TikTok Plans U.S. Shutdown Unless Supreme Court Strikes Down Law Requiring Sale

TikTok plans to shut down its operations in the United States by January 19 if the Supreme Court does not strike down or delay the enforcement of a new law requiring its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations.

The announcement comes as the Supreme Court considers arguments in a landmark case that pits free speech rights against national security concerns. The law, signed by President Joe Biden in April after receiving bipartisan support in Congress, mandates that TikTok either be sold by ByteDance or cease operating in the United States.

TikTok and ByteDance argue that the law violates the First Amendment, with the app’s lawyers describing it as a “dramatic overreach” that infringes on free speech protections. Content creators and users have joined TikTok in the case, emphasizing the platform’s role as an essential space for entertainment, culture, and livelihoods for its 150 million U.S. users.

“Rarely if ever has the court confronted a free-speech case that matters to so many people,” lawyers for TikTok users and creators wrote in a brief.

The Biden administration defends the law, asserting that TikTok’s ownership by ByteDance poses a grave national security risk. Officials argue that the Chinese government could potentially compel ByteDance to hand over U.S. user data or manipulate the platform to spread propaganda. However, TikTok’s lawyers contend that there is no evidence such actions have occurred, calling the concerns “hypothetical” and insufficient to justify restricting speech.

Adding a political twist, President-elect Donald Trump has filed a request urging the court to delay the ban, arguing that his incoming administration could negotiate a political resolution. In a legal brief, Trump’s team argued that he possesses the “dealmaking expertise” to address national security concerns without banning the app. Trump, who has over 14.7 million TikTok followers, used the platform extensively during his campaign to connect with younger voters.

TikTok has warned that even a short shutdown could devastate the platform, causing it to lose up to one-third of its daily U.S. users and significant advertising revenue.