Welcome to The Hill's Technology newsletter {beacon} Technology Technology   The Big Story  What to expect if TikTok ban takes effect As a potential TikTok ban looms, millions of U.S. users are left wondering what could happen to both their app and accounts if the ban takes effect in just a few days.  © Michael Dwyer, Associated Press File The ban law, which passed Congress with wide bipartisan majorities and was signed by President Biden last April, gave TikTok until Jan.19 to either divest from ByteDance, or face a ban in the U.S.    The ban law, which passed Congress with wide bipartisan majorities and was signed by President Biden last April, gave TikTok until Jan.19 to either divest from ByteDance, or face a ban in the U.S.    The divest-or-ban law makes it illegal for U.S. app stores — like ones operated by Google or Apple —  and web-hosting services to distribute TikTok to its users.     As a result, the application will be pulled from app stores and unavailable for new downloads.  Still, existing downloads are not likely to be removed – at least initially – on U.S. devices.     But with no updates coming from app stores, the app will likely become more buggy and eventually nonfunctional for U.S. users.     “The bugs would come from the fact that TikTok could overnight, or over the course of multiple weeks or months, sort of slowly phase off service,” Jason Kelley, director of activism for digital rights non-profit Electronic Frontier Foundation said.   “If I was going to take a bet, it’s that we see in 48 hours, most users will see just some sort of connection error when they go to load TikTok.”     While TikTok has not publicly confirmed its plans, one report claimed the company intends to immediately shut off its app for U.S. users on Sunday.     Unless the Supreme Court strikes down the ban, TikTok is planning to make the app unusable for people in the U.S. once the ban takes effect, The Information reported Tuesday, citing two people familiar with TikTok’s plans.     Under the plan, users trying to open the TikTok app will be greeted with a message directing them to a website with information about the ban, according to The Information report. Users will be given the option to download their data but will not be able to use the app, the outlet added.     TikTok’s lawyer, Noel Fransico, told the high court last week the platform will “go dark” unless the justices step in ahead of the deadline.     We have a full list of scenarios and where things stand at TheHill.com.   Welcome to The Hill’s Technology newsletter, we're Julia Shapero and Miranda Nazzaro — tracking the latest moves from Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley.   Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.   Essential Reads  How policy will be impacting the tech sector now and in the future:   Supreme Court decision on TikTok ban could come Friday The Supreme Court has signaled it will release at least one opinion Friday, a hastily scheduled announcement that comes as TikTok’s divest-or-ban deadline approaches Sunday.  The justices indicate in advance when they will hand down opinions, but Thursday’s update was highly unusual. It came with short notice and indicated the justices won’t read their opinions aloud in the courtroom, as is typical.  “The Court …  Full Story   Schumer pushes for TikTok ban delay as deadline looms Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Thursday called for a looming TikTok ban to be delayed to give the social media company more time to find an American buyer. “We aren’t against TikTok. We want TikTok to keep going. But we are against a Chinese company that is in cahoots with the Chinese Communist Party owning TikTok,” Schumer said during floor remarks Thursday. “Unfortunately, TikTok as it …  Full Story   Biden finalizes major loan to EV-maker Rivian days before Trump’s inauguration The Biden administration has finalized a massive loan to electric-vehicle maker Rivian just days before the Trump administration is taking office. The $6.57 billion loan will finance an electric vehicle plant in Georgia where the company, which currently specializes in luxury vehicles, will make SUVs and crossover vehicles. The Energy Department, in a press release, described the vehicles as “mass market” rather than luxury. …  Full Story   The Refresh  News we've flagged from the intersection of tech and other topics:   Trump taps new FCC commissioner President-elect Trump said Thursday that he plans to nominate Olivia Trusty, policy director on the Senate Commerce Committee, as the fifth commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).    Google won't add fact checks in EU Google does not plan to add fact checks to search results or YouTube videos in the European Union (EU), despite new requirements in the 27-country bloc, Axios reported.   In Other News  Branch out with other reads on The Hill: Microsoft leaders meet with Trump, Musk at Mar-a-Lago Microsoft’s top leaders met with President-elect Trump, Vice President-elect JD Vance and Elon Musk at Mar-a-Lago on Wednesday, a company spokesperson confirmed to The Hill.  Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Microsoft President Brad Smith chatted about cybersecurity and technology policy with Trump, Vance and Musk at the Palm Beach, Fla., resort, according to the spokesperson. The meeting was first reported by Semafor.  Their … Full Story   FCC chief: Agency is not ‘president’s speech police’ Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Jessica Rosenworcel is dismissing four high profile petitions before the agency before she vacates the position, saying such action is necessary to protect the First Amendment. In a Thursday statement, Rosenworcel said the FCC would dismiss the complaints and petitions from various groups “that seek to curtail freedom of the press and undermine the First Amendment.” … Full Story   What Others are Reading  Two key stories on The Hill right now: Georgia state senator arrested during governor’s speech Georgia state Sen. Colton Moore (R) was arrested and transported to the Fulton County Jail on Thursday for attempting to enter the House Chamber to … Read more Fetterman’s approach to Trump stirs speculation Sen. John Fetterman’s (D-Pa.) open-minded approach to President-elect Trump is fueling questions about his motives and vexing some of his fellow Democrats. … Read more   What Others are Reading  Opinion related to tech submitted to The Hill: Fake news hits home: My side of the interview that never happened     You're all caught up. See you tomorrow!  Close Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the Technology newsletter Subscribe