Biden White House says TikTok’s threat to go dark is a ‘stunt’

Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called TikTok’s threat to “go dark” on Sunday, January 19th, a “stunt,” and that there is no reason for TikTok to shut itself down before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in on the 20th. “It is a stunt, and we see no reason for TikTok or other companies to take actions in the next few days before the Trump Administration takes office on Monday,” MSNBC quotes Jean-Pierre as saying. “We have laid out our position clearly and straightforwardly: actions to implement this law will fall to the next administration. So TikTok and other companies should take up any concerns with them.” The statement comes after TikTok threatened to go offline if the Biden administration doesn’t offer reassurance that companies like Apple and Google won’t be held liable for defying the ban, which the Supreme Court upheld on Friday. Meanwhile, TikTok CEO Shou Chew has appealed to Trump by saying the company is “grateful” for his support of the platform. Trump said that a “90-day extension is something that will be most likely done” during an interview with Kristen Welker from NBC News. Other reporting suggests that the incoming President plans to issue an executive order to delay the ban. Given that the ban’s deadline is before Trump is sworn in, it’s not clear whether Trump can actually extend it. He can choose not to enforce the ban, just as Biden says he will, but that still leaves TikTok’s US service providers, like Apple, Google, and Oracle, at legal risk.

Jan 19, 2025 - 01:27

Biden White House says TikTok’s threat to go dark is a ‘stunt’

Photo illustration of Tik Tok app icon being deleted. — Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called TikTok’s threat to “go dark” on Sunday, January 19th, a “stunt,” and that there is no reason for TikTok to shut itself down before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in on the 20th.

“It is a stunt, and we see no reason for TikTok or other companies to take actions in the next few days before the Trump Administration takes office on Monday,” MSNBC quotes Jean-Pierre as saying. “We have laid out our position clearly and straightforwardly: actions to implement this law will fall to the next administration. So TikTok and other companies should take up any concerns with them.”

The statement comes after TikTok threatened to go offline if the Biden administration doesn’t offer reassurance that companies like Apple and Google won’t be held liable for defying the ban, which the Supreme Court upheld on Friday. Meanwhile, TikTok CEO Shou Chew has appealed to Trump by saying the company is “grateful” for his support of the platform.

Trump said that a “90-day extension is something that will be most likely done” during an interview with Kristen Welker from NBC News. Other reporting suggests that the incoming President plans to issue an executive order to delay the ban.

Given that the ban’s deadline is before Trump is sworn in, it’s not clear whether Trump can actually extend it. He can choose not to enforce the ban, just as Biden says he will, but that still leaves TikTok’s US service providers, like Apple, Google, and Oracle, at legal risk.