US lawmakers have told Apple and Google to be ready to remove TikTok on January 19 – they’re facing hundreds of billions of dollars in fines if they don’t comply

Pressure is mounting on Apple, Google, and TikTok as a January 19 deadline looms for compliance with a U.S. law targeting TikTok’s Chinese ownership. Representatives John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), key figures in the House China Select Committee, sent urgent letters to the CEOs of Apple, Google, and TikTok. The lawmakers emphasized that keeping TikTok accessible beyond this date without ByteDance divesting its ownership is a clear violation of the law.

The bipartisan law, signed by President Biden in April, mandates TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app to a non-Chinese entity or risk a nationwide ban. Lawmakers argue that ByteDance’s ties to the Chinese government pose a national security threat, raising concerns over potential surveillance and propaganda targeting U.S. citizens. While ByteDance has challenged the law in court, a recent federal appeals court ruling upheld the legislation, making compliance mandatory unless overturned by the Supreme Court.

In their communication, Moolenaar and Krishnamoorthi warned Apple and Google to prepare for the app’s removal from their stores if TikTok fails to meet the divestiture requirement. They also called on TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew to sell the app, stating, ‘Congress has acted decisively to defend national security.’ Despite these warnings, TikTok and ByteDance have consistently refused to sell the platform.

ByteDance and TikTok recently filed an emergency appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court, hoping to delay enforcement of the law. However, without intervention, the consequences could be severe. If the law takes effect, Apple and Google may face significant fines, while TikTok’s agreements with U.S. hosting services like Amazon and Oracle would terminate, leaving the app potentially unusable in the country.

TikTok has warned that removing it from app stores would disrupt access for millions of Americans and cripple its operations in the U.S. Yet, lawmakers like Republican Senator Josh Hawley remain firm, insisting that the app’s connection to Beijing oversight is non-negotiable.

For now, TikTok’s future in the U.S. hangs in the balance, with key players awaiting the Supreme Court’s next move.

Via Forbes and Reuters