An official says the Biden administration is “exploring options” to implement the law without causing TikTok to go dark for US users on January 19

Barring action by the Supreme Court, a ban in the U.S. on the popular app is set to begin on Sunday.

NBC News 2025-01-16

Context & Ripple Effects

The administration’s search for a non-blackout path comes after the Supreme Court agreed to hear the challenge on an accelerated timetable ahead of the law’s effective date, creating a narrow implementation window. The Court’s expedited review made the January 19 deadline the central operational constraint.

Related reporting indicates TikTok had been preparing for a possible U.S. shutdown rather than treating the statute as limited to app-download restrictions. TikTok’s reported shutdown plan raises the stakes of any ambiguity over how the law would be enforced.

First-order effects

TikTok, its U.S. users, and the service providers needed to keep the app operating face immediate uncertainty while the Biden administration evaluates implementation options.
The administration’s position could determine whether the statutory deadline produces a disruption in access or a temporary continuation of service pending further action.

Second-order effects

App stores, cloud and infrastructure providers, and business users of TikTok must plan around conflicting risks: continuing support without clear enforcement assurances or preparing for a rapid service interruption.
A non-blackout implementation would shift attention from a single shutdown date to the practical obligations imposed on the intermediaries that distribute and support TikTok.

Third-order effects

The episode shows how access-control laws can place platform availability in the hands of app stores and infrastructure partners, not only the platform operator.
If this enforcement model persists, major platforms facing national-security restrictions may need continuity plans that account for legal ambiguity across their distribution and service-provider ecosystems.

The trend: Platform regulation is increasingly being implemented through the distribution and infrastructure layers that determine whether a service remains usable.

Discussion

@ryanhatesthis Ryan Broderick on bluesky
Hard to overstate how thoroughly played the Biden admin and the Dems were on all of this. No one, at this point, remembers that all of this started as a Trump executive order in 2020. All that will be remembered is that the Democrats couldn't — or wouldn't — save TikTok. [embe…
@shiraovide Shira Ovide on bluesky
So. There's a nearly unanimous belief in DC that TikTok and Chinese technology are dangerous for America, but also they believe it's politically unpalatable to actually do something about it? — www.nbcnews.com/politics/joe...
@carnage4life Dare Obasanjo on bluesky
Biden realizing that he's given Trump a win by banning TikTok as the literal final move of his presidency.
@fraying Derek Powazek on bluesky
We're all trying to find the guy who signed the law to ban TikTok. 🌭 — www.nbcnews.com/politics/joe...
@petersterne.com Peter Sterne on bluesky
The people who supported the TikTok ban have argued “it's not a ban, since Bytedance could just sell the app” which I had assumed was just a bad-faith attempt to spin an unpopular ban, but it's possible they really were foolish enough to believe that. www.nbcnews.com/politics/joe…
@evacide @evacide on bluesky
Strong “Oops, we voted for Brexit” energy from the Biden administration. Dude, you are the guy who signed the TikTok ban into law. [embedded post]
@brandonfriedman Brandon Friedman on bluesky
This will test everyone's growing sense that laws are no longer real. What's supposed to happen Sunday, by law, is unambiguous in word and spirit. Without Supreme Court intervention or a buyer, TikTok is supposed to shut down. And both administrations are planning to just . . …
r/Fauxmoi r on reddit
Biden administration looks for ways to keep TikTok available in the U.S.
r/technology r on reddit
Biden administration looks for ways to keep TikTok available in the U.S.
r/politics r on reddit
Biden administration looks for ways to keep TikTok available in the U.S.
r/marketing r on reddit
So where do we think everyone is going to head after TikTok shuts down in the US on Sunday?
r/SecretsOfMormonWives r on reddit
TikTok Plans Immediate US Shutdown on Sunday
@mgsiegler.com M.G. Siegler on bluesky
Modern version of... [embedded post]
@paleofuture Matt Novak on bluesky
Our oligarchy is depressing but it's also just weird. Everybody gets a cut if you play ball.
@richardhanania Richard Hanania on x
What is the case for giving the CEO of TikTok a prominent seat at the inauguration? Even if you don't want to ban the app, why should the guy be honored? The only explanation I can think of is that this is an announcement that the administration is open to being corrupted. [image…
@maggienyt Maggie Haberman on x
Tim Cook, the Apple chief who personally gave $1 million to the inaugural committee, is also set to be on the dais.
@maggienyt Maggie Haberman on x
In addition to TikTok's CEO, tech moguls including Zuckerberg and Trump mega-supporter Elon Musk are also expected to be on the dais, per one of the people with knowledge.
r/politics r on reddit
TikTok CEO plans to attend Trump inauguration
r/AnythingGoesNews r on reddit
Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg to attend Trump's inauguration
@drewharwell.com Drew Harwell on bluesky
Trump end-running the TikTok law because people post hype videos of him there is one thing but the Biden admin backing down from a ban they helped draft and defend, and that they've known this entire time would happen, truly boggles the mind www.washingtonpost.com/technology/ 2..…
@zeldaydee @zeldaydee on threads
I just listened to Senator Ed Markey all up in a tizzy about TikTok possibly going dark for American users on Sunday. You'd think the sky was falling. When asked how worried he is about the CCP having this much access, he brushed it off and said the intelligence community found…
@zeldaydee @zeldaydee on threads
Mostly I just don't understand why he finds it so upsetting. It's an entertainment app, it's not all that serious. I for one will not be bothered by TikTok's disappearance, I never downloaded the app. Even my teen doesn't use it (her own decision). I'm pretty sure society wil…
@dashdobrofsky @dashdobrofsky on x
This is a win for Trump. It makes him look good. Biden should pause the ban before Sunday if he wants to stop Trump from being the guy who saved TikTok for 170 million Americans.
@varadmehta Varad Mehta on x
This is a nonsensical executive order that the Supreme Court would eagerly blow up and one which might make it more amenable to blowing up other Trump executive orders that are of much less dubious legality. Dumb idea all around.
@michaelsobolik Michael Sobolik on x
No. Under no circumstances should the incoming administration revive Project Texas. It's wholly inadequate mitigation measure, and more importantly doesn't address ByteDance's control of TikTok. [image]
@drewharwell Drew Harwell on x
New: Trump is considering an executive order to stall the TikTok ban - a cinematic save of an app where he believes he's widely adored. One of many unusual rescue ideas, but will it work? @ARozenshtein: EOs are “just press releases with nicer stationery” https://www.washingtonpos…
@socialistmma @socialistmma on x
BREAKING: Donald Trump is considering an executive order to protect Tiktok If this happens the Democratic Party is done. If this keeps up the Democratic Party will become more irrelevant than they were during the Reagan era
@polymarket @polymarket on x
Trump is considering an executive order to delay the TikTok ban for 60-90 days. Odds he saves TikTok just shot up to 69%. [image]
@gardnerakayla Akayla Gardner on x
Mike Waltz, Trump's incoming national security adviser, tells @FoxNews that the White House will “find a way to preserve” TikTok, “but protect people's data.” “That's the deal that'll be in front of us,” he says.
@baseballcrank Dan McLaughlin on x
I view the TikTok ban as a litmus test of our national commitment to get serious with China. If Trump ultimately scuttles it, that's a terrible sign for the Asia Firsters.
@aaronparnas Aaron Parnas on x
President Biden should sign the 90-day extension for the TikTok ban before Trump has the chance.
@ajamubaraka Ajamu Baraka on x
I think the Trump forces didn't do enough to remind young people that it was the democrats who were responsible for trying to shut down Tiktok.
@danprimack Dan Primack on x
Don't see how Trump can issue an EO to not enforce the TikTok ban, since prez can't unilaterally overturn a law. I checked w/ original GOP sponsor to see if enforcement was optional for AG, and he said it is not. Only real avenues here seem to be SCOTUS or the Markey divestment…
r/politics r on reddit
Trump considers executive order hoping to ‘save TikTok’ from ban or sale in U.S. law
r/neoliberal r on reddit
Trump considers executive order hoping to ‘save TikTok’ from ban or sale in U.S. law
r/stupidpol r on reddit
Trump considers executive order hoping to “save TikTok” from ban or sale
r/inthenews r on reddit
Trump considers executive order hoping to ‘save TikTok’ from ban in U.S. law

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