Apple, Google Remove TikTok From Stores as App Halts Service in the U.S.

Key Points

• Apple and Google removed TikTok from their app stores on Saturday night.
• Their action complies with a law requiring China’s ByteDance to divest the social app or face an effective ban in the United States.
• As a result, users in the U.S. can no longer download TikTok on their devices.
• TikTok also shut down service for American users, displaying a message that it is currently unavailable.
• The move follows the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision on Friday to uphold the “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.”

App Delisting and Service Halt

Apple and Google removed TikTok from their app stores on Saturday night, adhering to a U.S. law that demands ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based owner, sell off its American operations or face an outright ban. With TikTok no longer on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, people in the U.S. cannot download the short-form video app.

The removal occurred after the Supreme Court on Friday unanimously upheld the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which President Joe Biden signed in April. TikTok stated on Friday that its service would “go dark,” effectively ceasing operations for American users, unless the Biden administration intervened.

On the Google Play Store, the link that previously hosted TikTok returned:

Meanwhile, some users attempting to open TikTok itself or visit its website saw a notice saying:

“Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now. A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!”

Legal Requirements and Compliance

The law stipulates that if ByteDance failed to complete a “qualified divestiture” of TikTok by Sunday, service providers in the U.S. must cease supporting the app. Apple, Google, and Oracle therefore risked penalties if they continued to host or enable TikTok in any way. Apple and Google had distributed the app through their respective stores, while Oracle has been supplying cloud computing services to TikTok. In June, Oracle stated that this law could negatively affect its business.

Response From TikTok

After the Supreme Court’s decision, TikTok CEO Shou Chew asserted that using TikTok is protected by the First Amendment. He also underscored that over 7 million American businesses rely on TikTok to generate revenue and attract customers.

Chew posted a TikTok video addressing the situation, saying:

“Rest assured, we will do everything in our power to ensure our platform thrives as your online home for limitless creativity and discovery as well as a source of inspiration and joy for years to come.”

Chew also thanked President-elect Donald Trump, who had previously asked the Supreme Court to pause the law’s implementation to allow a potential political solution. Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday in Washington, along with various tech leaders from companies such as Meta, Amazon, Apple, and Google.

Political Reactions and Next Steps

Trump arrived in Washington on Saturday evening. His transition team did not immediately comment on the TikTok shutdown. On Friday, Trump said the Supreme Court’s decision had been expected and that “everyone must respect it.”

“My decision on TikTok will be made in the not too distant future, but I must have time to review the situation. Stay tuned!”
— Donald Trump, via Truth Social

On Sunday, Trump’s incoming National Security Adviser, Mike Waltz, suggested on CNN that “continued Chinese ownership of TikTok could be possible if there were firewalls to make sure that the data is protected here on U.S. soil.”

Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre characterized TikTok’s statement about going dark as a “stunt.” She explained that actions to implement the law would fall to the next administration, and advised TikTok and other affected companies to take up their concerns with that administration.

Trump told NBC News on Saturday that a 90-day extension of the Sunday deadline was “most likely,” and that he might announce a formal decision on Monday.

“The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it’s appropriate. We have to look at it carefully. It’s a very big situation.”
— Donald Trump

Potential Bidders and Acquisition Proposals

Perplexity AI, an artificial intelligence startup, submitted a bid for TikTok on Saturday, intending to merge TikTok’s U.S. operations with the startup and new capital partners, according to a CNBC report.

Businessman Frank McCourt’s Project Liberty revealed on January 9 that it too had submitted a proposal to acquire TikTok at undisclosed terms. McCourt told CNBC on Friday:

“We, I believe, are the only bidder that meets the necessary criteria of disentangling the technology from the Chinese algorithm.”