We’ll Suspend Access To Over 170m Americans On Sunday, Unless… TikTok Tells Biden

The New Diplomat
Writer

Ad

Tears as Ex-minister, Audu Ogbeh, Dies at 78

By Abiola Olawale A former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, is dead. Ogbeh, who was also a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was said to have passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at the age of 78. This was contained in a statement released on…

How Obasanjo Got Angry at Me Over Diesel Deregulation – Otedola Opens Up

By Abiola Olawale Nigerian billionaire businessman, Mr Femi Otedola has shared a dramatic encounter with former President Olusegun Obasanjo over the 2004 diesel deregulation policy. This was detailed in his upcoming memoir, Making It Big: Lessons from a Life in Business, set for release on August 18, 2025, by FO Books. Otedola, then chairman of…

Trump-Putin Talks Put Oil Markets on Edge

The Trump-Putin meeting has become the main commodity market news of this week, with analysts speculating about the likelihood of a comprehensive deal and the impacts this could have on oil markets. ICE Brent has been gradually sliding closer to $65 per barrel as lower sanction risks on Russia could further erode the market’s in-built…

Ad

By Kolawole Ojebisi

The last may not have been heard of the back and forth between the giant social media application, TikTok, and the government of the United States of America.

This is as TikTok announced its readiness to suspend access for over 170 million American users on Sunday.

TikTok stressed that it will only reconsider its stance if President Joe Biden’s administration intervenes and immediately assures that the app will not face penalties under a looming ban.

The potential shutdown stems from a bipartisan law signed by Biden in April, requiring TikTok to sell its operations to American buyers by Sunday or face a nationwide ban.

The Supreme Court upheld the controversial law on Friday, rejecting an appeal from TikTok’s owners, who argued the measure violated the First Amendment.

TikTok, in a statement issued Friday evening, criticised the Biden administration for failing to provide clarity.

“The statements issued today by both the Biden White House and the Department of Justice have failed to provide the necessary clarity and assurance to the service providers that are integral to maintaining TikTok’s availability to over 170 million Americans,” the company said.

“Unless the Biden Administration immediately provides a definitive statement to satisfy the most critical service providers assuring non-enforcement, unfortunately, TikTok will be forced to go dark on January 19.”

The Biden administration, which has left enforcement of the ban to incoming President Donald Trump, reiterated Friday that it had no plans to penalise service providers such as Google and Apple for hosting TikTok on Sunday.

However, officials have not ruled out further action before the deadline.Trump, who will be inaugurated on Monday, has hinted at not enforcing the ban but has yet to issue a definitive statement.

His team had sought a stay from the Supreme Court to allow time for negotiations on TikTok’s sale to American buyers, but the court denied the request, leaving the ban in place.

Ad

X whatsapp