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TikTok is reportedly gearing up to halt its operations in the United States this Sunday, unless an 11th-hour intervention occurs, according to sources cited by Reuters.

This move follows a federal law enacted in April that stipulates a ban on new downloads from Apple and Google's app stores unless ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, divests its U.S. operations.

President-elect Donald Trump, who will assume office the day after the ban is due to start, is contemplating an executive order to delay the enforcement of this shutdown for 60 to 90 days, as per The Washington Post.

However, the specifics of how he could legally achieve this remain unclear. Trump has advocated for a "political resolution" to the issue, emphasizing TikTok's value as a platform while addressing concerns about user data privacy.

His incoming national security adviser, Mike Waltz, echoed this sentiment on Fox News, stating that they aim to "preserve" the platform while ensuring data protection.

In a sign of political goodwill, The New York Times reports that TikTok's CEO has been invited to Trump's inauguration, highlighting the complex interplay between tech policy and politics.

Meanwhile, current President Joe Biden has no plans to intervene, as confirmed by a White House official to Reuters, unless ByteDance presents a credible divestiture plan. Nonetheless, an NBC report suggests that the Biden administration is exploring options to postpone the decision, effectively leaving the matter for Trump to handle post-inauguration.

Legislative efforts to extend the deadline for ByteDance have not succeeded; Senator Ed Markey's attempt to extend the divestiture period by 270 days was blocked by Senator Tom Cotton.

In preparation for a ban, TikTok plans to display a pop-up message to users directing them to a site explaining the ban, and it will also allow users to download their personal data, according to anonymous sources.

The U.S. Supreme Court is currently deliberating whether to enforce the ban, overturn the law, or temporarily halt it.

TikTok has warned in legal filings that a ban could disrupt its global operations since U.S. service providers are integral to its worldwide service, potentially affecting users in other countries as well.

The shutdown is designed to shield these providers from legal repercussions and simplify reinstatement should Trump reverse the ban.

The tech publication The Information was the first to break this news on Tuesday. ByteDance, which has significant institutional investment from entities like BlackRock and General Atlantic, employs over 7,000 people in the U.S.

Despite calls for an extension by Trump and some lawmakers, the Supreme Court appeared inclined last week to uphold the existing law.

TikTok and ByteDance argue that the ban infringes on First Amendment rights, potentially affecting millions of American users if the ban persists for even a month.

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