TikTok Plans to Cut Off U.S. Users Entirely if Sell-Off Bill is Enacted

It certainly sounds like TikTok is going to be pulled from the U.S. next week, and it could happen faster than many had expected.

According to a new report from The Information, TikTok’s planning to cut off U.S. users if/when the sell-off bill goes into effect next Monday, meaning that as of that day, TikTok would no longer be available to anyone in the region.

The expectation had been that TikTok would be pulled from app stores on that day, meaning no more downloads, while TikTok would stop supporting American users in the app. That would mean that the app would still work on your phone, as it can’t be removed from individual devices, but over time, it would eventually become disconnected, and unusable for Americans.

But evidently, TikTok’s parent company Bytedance is keen to put a full stop on its relationship with the U.S., as a result of the controversial bill, which is likely to see it lock out U.S. users as soon as the bill is enacted.

As per Reuters:

“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 company also plans to give users an option to download all their data so that they can take a record of their personal information.”

So you will be able to access your info after the fact, but the app looks set to be shut off, effective immediately, once the deadline hits.

If, of course, it gets to that stage.

There is still a chance that TikTok could be saved, with the Supreme Court still yet to rule on its appeal against the bill on Constitutional grounds. A decision on that front is expected any time now, yet even if the court doesn’t rule in its favor, TikTok could still be given a lifeline via government intervention, or through negotiation of a takeover deal that appeases U.S. officials.

Both TikTok’s owner Bytedance and the Chinese government have been firm on their intention to oppose the bill, and not sell the app to a U.S. partner. But speculation this week has been that the Chinese government is now considering potential options to keep the app available in the U.S., including the possibility of selling to a favorable business partner, like Tesla chief Elon Musk.

Musk already has ties to China, with much of Tesla’s production being conducted in the region, and as such, Chinese officials may see him as a preferred connector for a possible deal to keep the app available in the U.S.. Though there’s been no suggestion that Musk could acquire it, or would even be interested in doing so, as yet.

But time is running out, and with its options shrinking, it does seem like TikTok will cut off U.S. users, as of next week.

Though it is also worth noting that TikTok is also reportedly building in contingencies to switch the app back on for U.S. users quickly, if it can negotiate a return at some stage.