TikTok stopped working in the United States as of January 19, 2025, following the enactment of a new law that bans its operation due to concerns over national security and its ties to China. This legislation, known as the “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act,” requires TikTok, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, to sever its ties to Chinese control or face shutdown.
Current Status of TikTok in the U.S.
- Service Shutdown: U.S. users have received a message stating, “We’re sorry, TikTok is not available at this time,” reflecting the temporary halt of its operations.
- Legal and Political Actions: The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the ban, arguing that TikTok’s data collection poses a significant threat to national security. The Biden administration will not enforce the law immediately, leaving compliance to the incoming administration under Donald Trump.
Hopes for the Future
TikTok has expressed hope that Donald Trump, who will assume the presidency again on January 20, may help restore its operations in the U.S. The company has indicated that Trump has shown interest in finding a solution to keep the platform operational, even suggesting a possible 90-day extension to resolve the situation.
This situation has sparked a major debate over the privacy and security of personal data on technology platforms controlled by foreign companies, particularly in a context where over 170 million Americans use TikTok.
Image: DiarioNY
