Apple and Google face TikTok ban deadline from lawmakers
- U.S. lawmakers have mandated Apple and Google to prepare for TikTok's removal from stores by January 19.
- This decision follows a federal court ruling that upheld divestiture requirements for TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, due to national security concerns.
- The future of the app remains uncertain as TikTok prepares to appeal the ruling while warning users of potential access issues.
In the United States, ongoing concerns regarding the social media app TikTok have prompted lawmakers to issue a warning to tech giants Apple and Google. Following a federal court's recent ruling, representatives have mandated that the companies be ready to remove TikTok from their app stores by January 19, 2025, unless its parent company, ByteDance, executes a divestiture of its U.S. operations. This ruling stems from multiple allegations that TikTok poses a national security threat as it could potentially function as an arm of the Chinese government, due to its ownership by a Chinese company potentially connected to state-controlled entities. This has raised alarm among congressmen, particularly as 170 million Americans actively use the platform. Lawmakers urge an expedited sale of the app to minimize risks and protect consumers, emphasizing the need to safeguard national security. Furthermore, the TikTok company itself plans to challenge this determination through appeals, claiming that it is not controlled by the Chinese government, and in fact asserts its commitment to user privacy and data security. Anticipating significant user impact, TikTok has already warned that without favorable court intervention, the app's accessibility would deteriorate as the imposed deadline approaches. This situation follows previous legal battles and serves as a critical moment for TikTok's future in the U.S. market, amidst political pressure and public scrutiny fueled by legal and legislative actions.