China has accused the US government of using unfair state power to suppress TikTok. (Getty Images: SOPA Images)
In short:
Incoming US president Donald Trump says he'll "probably announce" a 90-day pause on a TikTok ban in the country.
The Chinese-owned app has 170 million US users.
Under a law passed last year and upheld on Friday by a unanimous Supreme Court, the platform has until Sunday to cut ties with its China-based parent ByteDance.
US president-elect Donald Trump says he will "most likely" give TikTok a 90-day reprieve from a potential ban after he takes office.
Some of the app's 170 million American users buzzed with nervous anticipation ahead of a shutdown set for Sunday local time, in the final days of the Biden administration.
"The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it's appropriate," Trump told NBC in an interview.
"If I decide to do that, I'll probably announce it on Monday."
Trump's plans, in his own words
Photo shows Donald Trump, wearing a red 'Make America Great Again' cap, pictured in front of a black-and-white graphic of the White House.
The Chinese-owned app, which has captivated nearly half of all Americans, powered small businesses and shaped online culture, said on Friday it would go dark in the US on Sunday unless President Joe Biden's administration provided assurances to companies such as Apple and Google that they would not face enforcement actions when a ban takes effect.
Under a law passed last year and upheld on Friday by a unanimous Supreme Court, the platform has until Sunday to cut ties with its China-based parent ByteDance or shut down its US operation to resolve concerns it poses a threat to national security.
The White House dismissed TikTok's Friday comment as a stunt, reiterating on Saturday that it was up to the incoming Trump administration to take action, increasing the likelihood of a shutdown on Sunday.
"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," press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the new White House statement.
The Chinese embassy in Washington on Friday accused the US of using unfair state power to suppress TikTok.
"China will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights and interests," a spokesperson said.
Users on the app were saying their goodbyes, some filming themselves frantically scrolling or sharing final secrets with their followers ahead of the ban.
"Does anyone know if the TikTok ban goes into effect on Sunday or if we have all of Sunday to like brain rot still? I need to plan accordingly," fitness influencer Britany Williams said in a video to her 64,000 followers.
Supreme Court justices upheld the ban on Friday in a unanimous decision.
Without a decision by Mr Biden to formally invoke a 90-day delay in the deadline, companies providing services to TikTok or hosting the app could face legal liability.
It was not clear if TikTok's business partners, including Apple, Alphabet's Google and Oracle, would continue doing business with it before Trump is inaugurated on Monday.
Trump helped initiate the US moves against TikTok at the end of his first term, telling reporters he would ban the app.
Reuters
