Google and Apple Set Deadline to Remove TikTok.
Two U.S. lawmakers have warned Google and Apple that the time is approaching when TikTok must be removed from their platforms.
The deadline for TikTok, the popular ByteDance application, to remain available in the United States is approaching. Two members of Congress have warned Google and Apple about the removal of the app from their respective stores, with a specific date: January 19, 2025. This bipartisan communication comes from John Moolenaar, chairman of the related committee, and Raja Krishnamoorthi, the leading Democratic representative of the group.
Both legislators have urged TikTok, through its CEO Shou Zi Chew, to consider selling the app, arguing that Congress is committed to national security and protecting American users from the threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party. In their letter, they stated: "Congress has acted decisively to defend the national security of the United States and protect American users."
In response to these warnings, the Department of Justice indicated that if the ban is implemented on the specified date, it would not immediately restrict access to TikTok for those who have already downloaded it on their devices. However, they acknowledged that the lack of support for the application could lead to it becoming unsustainable.
TikTok, for its part, stated that without a court order, the app would stop being available in stores starting January 19, affecting numerous users who have not yet downloaded it. The company warned that the interruption of support services could "paralyze the platform in the United States and render it completely unusable."
