Privacy groups, experts, parents laud SCOTUS TikTok ban while others slam decision as ‘anti-democratic’

Legal experts, privacy groups, and parents are celebrating the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold a federal law banning TikTok unless it is divested from its Chinese parent company ByteDance. The ruling, which is set to go into effect on Sunday, has been praised as a victory for national security and privacy.

In an unsigned ruling, the court acknowledged TikTok’s popularity among Americans but emphasized Congress’s concerns about the app’s data collection practices and its relationship with a foreign adversary. Former Vice President Mike Pence hailed the decision as a win for the privacy and security of the American people, while Sen. Tom Cotton and Sen. Ted Cruz also voiced their support for the ruling.

Carrie Severino, President of Judicial Crisis Network, highlighted the danger of the Chinese Communist Party having access to the data of millions of Americans and called for strict enforcement of the law. President Biden, who had previously indicated his support for the ban, deferred implementation to President-elect Donald Trump and his incoming administration.

Alleigh Marré, Executive Director of American Parents Coalition, expressed relief that children would be protected from TikTok’s harmful influences. Michael Lucci, Founder and CEO of State Arumor, called for TikTok’s sale to an American company or for the app to cease operations in the U.S. as per the Supreme Court’s decision.

However, not everyone is pleased with the ruling. Electronic Frontier Foundation Civil Liberties Director David Greene criticized the decision as “anti-democratic,” while UC Berkeley School of Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky argued that the Court was wrong in its assessment of the national security concerns.

The law requiring TikTok’s divestment was passed by Congress last year, citing concerns over the app’s Chinese ownership and the potential for data misuse. With approximately 170 million Americans using TikTok, the ban is expected to have a significant impact on speech and communication.

Overall, the Supreme Court’s decision has sparked a mix of reactions, with supporters applauding the move as a necessary step to protect national security and privacy, while critics raise concerns about its potential impact on free speech and democratic values. It remains to be seen how the implementation of the ban will unfold in the coming days.