TikTok Warns of January 19 US Shutdown If Supreme Court Rejects Appeal During Critical Hearing
TikTok could potentially shut down its U.S. operations by January 19 if the Supreme Court doesn't intervene, affecting over 170 million monthly domestic users. The announcement comes as the Supreme Court begins hearing arguments about upholding the impending TikTok ban.
TikTok LA office with rainbow wall
Key Points About the Potential Shutdown:
- President-elect Trump has requested the Supreme Court delay the ban until after his inauguration, citing foreign policy concerns
- Trump can issue a 90-day delay after January 19, provided Congress certifies progress in ByteDance's TikTok divestment
- If banned, existing users can continue using the app, but no updates or new downloads will be available
- Apple and Google would remove TikTok from their app stores once the ban takes effect
Impact on LA Operations:
The situation coincides with severe wildfires affecting Los Angeles, where TikTok's Culver City office remains closed due to power outages. The company has instructed employees to:
- Work from home between January 8-12
- Take sick days if needed
- Navigate operations despite widespread power and WiFi outages affecting nearly four million people
Billie Eilish singing at Fire Aid
Drake holding a microphone
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