TikTok has officially announced plans to shut down its operations in the United States by January 19, 2025, unless the Supreme Court intervenes to block or delay the ban.
“Absent such relief, the Act will take effect on January 19, 2025,” TikTok stated in a December 9 legal filing. “That would shut down TikTok—one of the Nation’s most popular speech platforms for its more than 170 million domestic monthly users on the eve of a presidential inauguration.”
The ban stems from legislation signed into law by President Joe Biden last year. The law mandates TikTok’s removal from U.S. app stores and prohibits internet providers from allowing access to the platform unless its parent company, ByteDance, sells the app to an American entity by January 19.
The move comes amid national security concerns, with lawmakers and officials raising alarms about the potential for the Chinese government to use TikTok for surveillance on U.S. residents.
In response, TikTok filed an emergency motion seeking an injunction to prevent the ban from taking effect. The company argues the law violates the First Amendment and would result in “substantial losses,” according to legal documents.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on January 10 to determine whether the law will be upheld or overturned.
Meanwhile, several entrepreneurs have expressed interest in acquiring TikTok’s U.S. operations. Among them is Kevin O’Leary, entrepreneur and investor on Shark Tank.
“This isn’t just about buying TikTok’s U.S. assets,” O’Leary wrote on January 6 in a message on X, formerly Twitter. “It’s about something much bigger: protecting the privacy of 170 million American users.”
O’Leary emphasized the app’s potential for economic and social impact, stating, “It’s about empowering creators and small businesses. And it’s about building a platform that prioritizes PEOPLE over algorithms.”
However, O’Leary acknowledged the need for cooperation with the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, who will take office on January 20.
“Trump will be who we have to work with to close the deal in the months ahead,” O’Leary said during a January 6 appearance on Fox News’ The Story with Martha MacCallum. “So, I wanted to let him know—as well as others in his cabinet—that we’re doing this, and we’re going to need their help.”
The future of TikTok in the U.S. now hinges on the Supreme Court’s decision and the possibility of a last-minute deal to keep the app accessible to millions of Americans.