Tiktok is preparing to stop its platform on Sunday in the United States, which would go further than the requirements of the law passed at the US Congress, which should only prevent its download in the country, reports the information on Wednesday.
Solicited by AFP, the social network did not follow up.
As of Sunday, users who have already downloaded the application will no longer be able to open it and will be automatically directed to a message relating to new legislative provisions, according to The information. They will be offered to download their data and content published on the platform.
The Congress adopted in April 2024 a binding text for Tiktok’s parent company, Bytedance, to sell its American activities by January 19, under penalty of prohibition of the social network in the United States.
Fears of a spy tool
The law provides, in the event of execution, to oblige Internet suppliers and the Applications to prevent Tiktok from being downloaded after the deadline.
American elected officials justified the vote of this law by fears of seeing the data and contents of American users exploited by the Chinese authorities, suspected of using the platform as a espionage tool.
Tiktok and Bytedance have always refuted that they have granted access to social network data to the Chinese government and assured that they have never received a request to this effect.
Bytedance has so far refused to give Tiktok, even if several American investors have positioned themselves, first of all, the Frank McCourt businessman, ready to put $ 20 billion on the table.
“Several scenarios”
Tiktok seized the Supreme Court in December to have the law invalidated. The decision of the highest American jurisdiction is expected from one day to the next.
The president elected Donald Trump asked the high magistrates to return their decision, saying that they are able to find a favorable outcome to the file, which would preserve Tiktok.
In an internal message sent to Tiktok teams and published by the site The Vergethe management said that it “was preparing for several scenarios”.
She also assured American employees of the group that “their jobs, their salary and their advantages” would be preserved regardless of the path chosen by Tiktok.
