TikTok suspends app within United States

TikTok has been banned in the US. Photo / NurPhoto via Getty Images

TikTok disconnected access to its users in the United States late on Saturday after no action was taken shortly before a national ban was to take effect, with US President-elect Donald Trump unable to intervene until he takes office.

“A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the US,” a message to users attempting to use the app read. “Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.”

“We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office,” the message added. “Please stay tuned!”

After months of legal tussles, the US Supreme Court on Friday upheld a law that would ban the popular video-sharing platform in the name of national security, unless its Chinese owners reach a deal to sell it to non-Chinese buyers by Sunday.

From teenage dancers to grandmothers sharing cooking tips, TikTok has been embraced for its ability to transform ordinary users into global celebrities when a video goes viral.

It also has a fan in Trump, who has credited the app with connecting him to younger voters, contributing to his election victory in November.

Participants hold signs in support of TikTok outside the US Capitol Building on March 13, 2024 in Washington DC. Photo / Getty Images

After discussing TikTok with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump told NBC News on Saturday he could activate a 90-day reprieve after he reclaims the Oval Office.

“I think that would be, certainly, an option that we look at. The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it’s appropriate,” he said, ahead of Monday’s inauguration.

“If I decide to do that, I’ll probably announce it on Monday.”

The law allows a 90-day delay if the White House can show progress towards a viable deal, but TikTok owner ByteDance has flatly refused any sale.

The administration of outgoing US President Joe Biden has said it will leave the matter to Trump, and White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre qualified TikTok’s latest statements as a “stunt”.

After the court defeat, TikTok chief executive Shou Zi Chew appealed to Trump, thanking him for his “commitment to work with us to find a solution”.

ByteDance has refused to sell TikTok. Photo / NurPhoto via Getty Images

Trump “truly understands our platform,” he added.

Chew is also set to attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday.

The law requires Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their app stores, blocking new downloads. The companies could face penalties of up to $5000 per user who can access the app.

Oracle, which hosts TikTok’s servers, would also be legally obligated to enforce the ban.

None of the companies responded to requests for comment on Saturday.

Offers for TikTok

A last-minute proposal made on Saturday by the highly valued start-up Perplexity AI offered a merger with the US subsidiary of TikTok, a source with knowledge of the deal told AFP.

That deal could allow parent company ByteDance a possible solution without selling off the app entirely.

The plan, first reported by US broadcaster CNBC, would create a new joint venture combining the assets of US TikTok and Perplexity AI, which has been backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

The proposal did not include a price for the transaction, but the source estimated it would be at least US$50 billion.

Frank McCourt, the former Los Angeles Dodgers owner, has also made an offer to purchase TikTok’s US activity and said he’s “ready to work with the company and ... Trump to complete a deal”.

Canadian investor Kevin O’Leary, who is involved in that offer, told Fox News ByteDance was offered US$20b for TikTok’s US operation.

He acknowledged the legal uncertainty over the case, with it remaining an open question whether an executive order by Trump to halt the ban would override the law.

“Congress wrote this law to be virtually president-proof,” warned Adam Kovacevich, chief executive of industry trade group Chamber of Progress.

Sarah Kreps, a professor of government and law at Cornell University, said “if an executive order conflicts with an existing law, the law takes precedence, and the order can be struck down by the courts”.

With TikTok forced into a shutdown, its US-based rivals Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts could reap benefits.

Thousands of worried TikTok users have protectively turned to Xiaohongshu (“Little Red Book”), a Chinese social media network similar to Instagram.

Nicknamed “RedNote” by its American users, it was the most downloaded app on the US Apple Store this week.

– Agence France-Presse