TikTok is not obtainable within the US

The change has flipped on the US TikTok ban. TikTok’s app stoped working and was faraway from the App Retailer and Google Play on Saturday night time, simply hours earlier than the January 19 ban was anticipated to take impact.

Individuals who have beforehand put in the app are as a substitute greeted with a pop-up. “Sorry, TikTok is not obtainable proper now,” it says. “A regulation banning TikTok has been enacted within the U.S. Sadly, which means you’ll be able to’t use TikTok for now. We’re lucky that president Trump has indicated that he’ll work with us on an answer to reinstate TikTok as soon as he takes workplace. Please keep tuned.”

The discover provides the choice to shut the app or “be taught extra,” which directs customers to TikTok’s web site, which has related language. Current customers may also obtain their knowledge from the web site. ByteDance’s common video modifying app, CapCut, can also be not obtainable inside the US, together with a slew of different apps.

Following the passage of the “Defending People from International Adversary Managed Apps Act” by President Biden, TikTok had six months to divest itself from Chinese language mum or dad firm ByteDance. The corporate opted to combat the regulation, bringing a case to the Supreme Courtroom claiming that its First Modification rights had been violated by the measure. The excessive courtroom, with a restricted period of time to think about the case, dominated unanimously towards the app.

As a part of the ban, Apple’s App Retailer, Google’s Play Retailer and every other app market should take away TikTok or be topic to a tremendous of $5,000 for each consumer within the US that downloads the app. White Home officers stated earlier within the week that the ban wouldn’t be enforced throughout President Joe Biden’s ultimate hours in workplace, however TikTok stated that the federal government had “failed to offer the mandatory readability and assurance to the service suppliers which can be integral to sustaining TikTok’s availability to over 170 million People.”

In a press release on its assist web page concerning the ban, Apple confirmed that TikTok and different ByteDance apps would not be obtainable from the App Retailer within the US as of January 19. “Apple is obligated to comply with the legal guidelines within the jurisdictions the place it operates,” the corporate wrote.

A number of makes an attempt have been made to ban TikTok within the US over issues of spying, however that is the primary time one has caught, at the least quickly. President-elect Donald Trump was a significant supporter of a ban throughout his first time period in workplace and, mockingly, is TikTok’s solely hope of surviving after his second inauguration. Earlier on Saturday, Trump informed NBC Information that he would “almost definitely” grant a 90-day extension to the corporate after taking workplace.

Ought to an extension come, it isn’t clear what sort of association the corporate may fit out to stay within the US in any case. Perplexity AI has reportedly submitted a bid to merge with TikTok’s stateside operations, CNBC reported. Others, together with investor Kevin O’Leary (of Shark Tank fame) have additionally made proposals or expressed curiosity in shopping for the service.

Extra reporting by Karissa Bell.

Replace, January 19 2025, 11:20AM ET: This story has been up to date to incorporate a press release from Apple’s assist web page addressing the ban.

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