Apple and Google are being urged by U.S. lawmakers to prepare for the removal of TikTok from their app stores by January 19, 2024.
This bipartisan warning follows a recent ruling by a U.S. federal appeals court, which upheld a law requiring TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to divest the app in the United States or face a ban.
With TikTok having 170 million American users, this law could have significant implications for its accessibility in the U.S.
The letter, signed by Republican Representative John Moolenaar and Democrat Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, both leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives’ committee on China, urged Apple and Google to take action.
The Department of Justice clarified that while users who already have TikTok downloaded can still access the app, the removal of support services would eventually render the app unworkable. This means that, without the necessary updates and services, TikTok would become unusable over time.
TikTok responded by warning that, unless a court order is issued, the app will be removed from the app stores on January 19, making it unavailable to anyone who hasn’t already downloaded it.
The company expressed concern that this would cripple its platform in the United States. Meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers continue to pressure TikTok’s CEO to divest the app, citing national security concerns over its ties to China.
This situation highlights the growing tension between U.S. lawmakers and Chinese tech companies, with some politicians, like Republican Senator Josh Hawley, arguing that the core issue is TikTok’s oversight by Beijing. As the January 19 deadline approaches, the future of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain.
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