By adragan @Adobe Stock

TikTok plans to shut down its app for U.S. users starting Sunday, ahead of a potential federal ban, unless the Supreme Court intervenes, Reuters reported. The law would stop new downloads but allow existing users to continue using the app. TikTok will display a pop-up message with ban information and offer users the option to download their data. The shutdown follows a law requiring ByteDance to sell its U.S. assets by January 19, 2025, or face a nationwide ban. TikTok argues the law violates First Amendment rights and has requested a delay. They write:

TikTok plans to shut its app for U.S. users from Sunday, when a federal ban on the social media app could come into effect, unless the Supreme Court moves to block it, sources familiar with the matter said.

The outcome of the shutdown would be different from that mandated by the law. The law would mandate a ban only on new TikTok downloads on Apple, or Google, app stores, while existing users could continue using it for some time.

Under TikTok’s plan, people attempting to open the app will see a pop-up message directing them to a website with information about the ban, the sources said, requesting anonymity as the matter is not public. […]

TikTok said in a court filing last month it estimates one-third of the 170 million Americans using its app would stop accessing the platform if the ban lasts a month.

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