TikTok says will ‘go darkish’ on Sunday after Supreme Courtroom’s ruling, CEO thanks Trump for assist – Firstpost

Common video-sharing app TikTok confirmed that it’ll ‘go darkish’ on Sunday except the corporate will get extra readability from US President Joe Biden’s administration and the Division of Justice. The assertion got here after the US Supreme Courtroom upheld the legislation which forces TikTok to be banned except its dad or mum firm ByteDance divest from the app.

“The statements issued right this moment by each the Biden White Home and the Division of Justice have failed to offer the required readability and assurance to the service suppliers which can be integral to sustaining TikTok’s availability to over 170 million People,” the corporate mentioned on Friday night in a submit on X, previously referred to as Twitter. In the meantime, TikTok’s CEO Shou Chew additionally shared a video message on Friday thanking the incoming US President-elect Donald Trump.

Assertion on Doable Shutdown

The statements issued right this moment by each the Biden White Home and the Division of Justice have failed to offer the required readability and assurance to the service suppliers which can be integral to sustaining TikTok’s availability to over 170 million…

— TikTok Coverage (@TikTokPolicy) January 18, 2025

The assertion from the corporate got here hours after Chew shared his video message. “Except the Biden Administration instantly gives a definitive assertion to fulfill essentially the most crucial service suppliers assuring non-enforcement, sadly, TikTok can be compelled to go darkish on January 19,” the assertion continued. It was earlier reported that the app had deliberate to “go darkish” as a remaining resort.

TikTok CEO thanks Trump

The video posted on TikTok marked Chew’s first public assertion for the reason that Supreme Courtroom upheld a legislation banning the app simply hours earlier. “I need to thank President Trump for his dedication to work with us to discover a answer that retains TikTok out there in america,” he mentioned. “It is a robust stand for the First Modification and towards arbitrary censorship.”

“We’re grateful and happy to have the assist of a president who actually understands our platform — one who has used TikTok to specific his ideas and views, connecting with the world and producing greater than 60 billion views of his content material within the course of,” the TikTok CEO furthered. On Friday, the Biden administration introduced that it was leaving the implementation of the controversial legislation within the palms of Trump who will assume the White Home on Monday.

It is very important word that in his first stint within the Oval Workplace, Trump unsuccessfully tried to ban TikTok. Nonetheless, he has modified his tune since then and actively used the app throughout his 2024 presidential marketing campaign. After his victory, Trump’s workforce emphasised how the app helped the previous president to achieve a “wider youthful viewers”. Regardless of the court docket ruling Chew is predicted to attend Trump’s inauguration Monday and sit the place he’ll sit with different tech executives.

Whereas reacting to the Supreme Courtroom’s ruling, Trump wrote on Reality Social that “The Supreme Courtroom determination was anticipated, and everybody should respect it. My determination on TikTok can be made within the not-too-distant future, however I should have time to evaluate the state of affairs. Keep tuned!”

With inputs from companies.