The fate of TikTok in the United States hangs in the balance as the company claims that the outgoing Biden administration needs to provide "definitive" assurances that it won't enforce the ban, despite the Supreme Court upholding a law that would effectively ban the app.

On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a law that would ban TikTok in the United States if its owner, ByteDance, doesn't sell the platform. With a sale unlikely to go through in the two days before the law takes effect, it seemed that TikTok would disappear from app stores on Sunday, January 19. However, the incoming Trump administration had asked the Supreme Court to delay the ban, and the Biden administration seemed inclined to leave TikTok's fate in Trump's hands.

In a statement on Friday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated that President Biden's position remains unchanged, stating that "TikTok should remain available to Americans, but simply under American ownership or other ownership that addresses the national security concerns identified by Congress." However, given the timing, Jean-Pierre said "actions to implement the law simply must fall to the next Administration."

A Justice Department statement from Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco suggested that "the next phase of this effort — implementing and ensuring compliance with the law after it goes into effect on January 19 — will be a process that plays out over time." However, TikTok responded with a statement of its own, expressing dissatisfaction with the lack of clarity and assurance from the Biden administration and the DOJ.

According to TikTok, the company and app stores need "definitive" assurances from the Biden administration that it won't enforce the ban. The company stated that unless the administration provides a clear statement to satisfy the most critical service providers, "unfortunately TikTok will be forced to go dark on January 19." This means that the app's availability in US app stores remains uncertain, leaving millions of users in limbo.

The implications of a TikTok ban are far-reaching, with the platform boasting over 170 million users in the United States. The ban would not only affect users but also the creators and businesses that rely on the platform for their livelihood. The uncertainty surrounding TikTok's fate has sparked concerns about the impact on the digital landscape and the role of government in regulating social media.

As the clock ticks down to the January 19 deadline, all eyes are on the Biden administration to provide the necessary assurances to TikTok and app stores. The outcome of this saga will have significant implications for the tech industry, national security, and the millions of users who have come to rely on the platform.