The U.S. Supreme Court has confirmed the upcoming prohibition of TikTok, a verdict that will lead to the gradual elimination of the widely-used app from the digital experiences of American users starting January 19. In a unanimous decision, the court validated the legality of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, the legislation that supports the ban.

“There is no doubt that, for over 170 million Americans, TikTok provides a unique and extensive platform for expression, a means of interaction, and a source of community. However, Congress has concluded that divestiture is essential to address well-founded national security apprehensions regarding TikTok’s data harvesting practices and its connection with a foreign adversary,” the court’s ruling articulated.

This represents the first successful attempt to prohibit TikTok following years of endeavors by U.S. lawmakers, who have consistently expressed worries about the app’s affiliations with its China-based parent company, ByteDance, and its possible risks to national security.

TikTok submitted an emergency motion in early December, requesting the Supreme Court to halt the ban and consider arguments in opposition to it. Advocates for the app, including groups such as the ACLU, have contended that the ban is unconstitutional and violates free speech rights. On December 18, the court consented to hear challenges to the ban.

President Joe Biden, in his final days in office, declared that he would not actively pursue the ban, allowing its execution to fall to the forthcoming Trump administration. President-elect Donald Trump, who is anticipated to be inaugurated for a second term on January 20, has pledged to block TikTok’s removal from the U.S. market. Trump has asked the court to grant a stay on the ban’s deadline, indicating his intent to preserve the app from being discontinued.