On The Supreme Court on Friday upheld legislation effectively banning the social media app TikTok in the US. The law was signed by President Joe Biden last year and requires the app to be sold by Chinese parent company ByteDance by Sunday.
The court said that while TikTok is a “specific and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement, and source of community,” Congress determined that the sale was necessary to “address its well-supported national security concerns regarding its data collection practices and relationship on TikTok with a foreign opponent”.
If the company doesn't sell the app by Sunday, here's what social media users in the US should expect.
Will I be able to download TikTok on my phone?
Under the law, app stores run by companies like Apple and Google will have to remove the app from their stores overnight or face civil penalties. That means you won't be able to download the app to your device, and it also means ByteDance won't be able to issue updates to the app.
Will I still be able to access TikTok if I already have it?
If you already have the app downloaded on your device, yes. The law does not make it illegal to have the app on your phone.
Because app stores won't be able to distribute app updates after the law goes into effect, your experience with the app may degrade over time and even become insecure. It's unclear how long the app will run on your device without regular updates.
Will I be able to access TikTok from a web browser?
No, the law applies to both app stores and ISPs.
Could TikTok stop working in the US?
Yes, there is a chance that TikTok will completely stop working in the US.
According to the technology website The informationsources said TikTok is preparing to shut down the app for US users on Sunday, the same day the law takes effect. That means even if you have the app on your device, it won't work. If the app were to be completely shut down in the US, it would be a step beyond what the law requires. The report also said that TikTok plans to give people the option to download their data so that they can take into account their personal information.
TikTok did not respond to CNET's request for comment.
How do I keep my posts and videos I like?
TikTok lets you download your posts and posts from your favorite creators. Here's how to download posts from your favorite creators a week ago.
1. Open TikTok.
2. Tap it Share it post button — it's the arrow on the right side of your screen.
3. Tap Save video.
Here's how to save your own posts.
1. Open TikTok.
2. Go to your profile.
3. Tap a post.
4. Tap the three dots (…) on the right side of your screen.
5. Tap Save video.
The app will save those posts to your photo library.
Can I use a VPN to access TikTok?
You can potentially use a VPN on your phone or browser to access TikTok, yes.
“A virtual private network is a privacy tool that hides yours IP address by sending your Internet traffic through a remote server,” CNET's Moe Long writes. “If I'm in New York but tunneling through a London server with ExpressVPN“Disney Plus thinks I'm across the pond.”
A VPN can make TikTok look like you're accessing it from the UK or another country where it's not banned, when you're actually in the US.
You can also use a proxy server to access TikTok. A proxy server, like a VPN, masks your IP address by sending your traffic through another server first. The main difference between the two is that a proxy server does not offer as comprehensive privacy protection as a VPN.
Can President-elect Trump Save TikTok?
It is unclear for now. The law will take effect on Sunday, one day before the inauguration of the newly elected president. So even if Trump wants to do something about the law, it will still go into effect for at least one day.
A A Biden administration official told ABC on Thursday that the White House does not plan to implement the law before Trump takes office. The law gives the Justice Department the authority to pursue penalties for tech companies that violate the law, and even if the administration doesn't enforce the law, those tech companies can still be held liable as long as TikTok is owned by ByteDance.
Trump's lawyers filed an amicus brief in the case two weeks ago, asking the court to delay the ban to give him time to devise a “political solution.” At this point, Trump won't be able to do anything about it until he takes office one day after the law goes into effect.
For more on the case, here's what to know about The decision of the Supreme Court.