White House calls TikTok threat to shut down Sunday a ‘stunt’

“We have laid out our position clearly and straightforwardly: actions to implement this law will fall to the next administration. So TikTok and other companies should take up any concerns with them.”

TikTok had announce that it will be forced to “go dark” in unless the Biden administration issues a clear statement to service providers ensuring the platform’s continued availability.

Statements issued on Friday by the White House and the Department of Justice “have failed to provide the necessary clarity and assurance” to service providers, TikTok said in a post on X.

The Supreme Court on Friday unanimously upheld a law that could shut down the wildly popular social media platform in the US as early as Sunday. President Joe Biden, responding to the ruling, told reporters that a decision on the app will be left to his successor.

“Unless the Biden Administration immediately provides a definitive statement to satisfy the most critical service providers assuring non-enforcement, unfortunately TikTok will be forced to go dark on January 19,” the company stated.

Under the law, TikTok’s China-based parent company, ByteDance Ltd., must find a buyer for its US operations or face a shutdown by Jan. 19. However, the president has the authority to grant a 90-day extension if serious purchase negotiations are underway.