TikTok fights looming ban in U.S. Supreme Court. What you need to know
The company that owns TikTok is making a last-ditch effort to prevent a new law from being enforced that would result in the app being banned in the United States. The law requires ByteDance, the China-based parent company of TikTok, to sell the app to a non-Chinese company by January 19 or face a ban. The U.S. Supreme Court is now involved in hearing ByteDance’s case against the law, claiming it infringes on the company’s First Amendment right to free speech.
The U.S. government’s primary concern with TikTok is the potential threat to national security due to the app’s Chinese ownership. They fear that the Chinese government could access user data and use TikTok’s algorithm to spread disinformation. The law aims to address these concerns by forcing ByteDance to divest its ownership of TikTok to a non-Chinese entity.
If the ban is implemented, TikTok would no longer be available for download or updates in the U.S., and anyone found distributing or maintaining the app could face fines of up to $5,000 per user. While existing users may still be able to access the app, they would not receive any updates or new features.
The Supreme Court case revolves around the clash between free speech rights and national security concerns. ByteDance argues that the law restricts their ability to communicate with Americans, while the government asserts that it is necessary to prevent a foreign adversary from controlling TikTok. The legality of forcing ownership changes on a social media platform like TikTok is a new and unprecedented issue.
The timeline for a ruling is expedited due to the impending ban’s implementation date. It is expected that a decision will be made quickly, potentially as early as next week. As Donald Trump takes office on January 20, his administration’s stance on the TikTok ban has shifted. Trump now opposes the ban and has filed a brief in support of halting the law, indicating a desire to resolve the issue through political means.
While the ban only applies to entities in the U.S., the Canadian government has also taken action against TikTok, ordering the app to cease its business operations in Canada. However, there are no restrictions on the availability of TikTok in Canada at this time. It remains to be seen how the legal battle over TikTok will unfold and what implications it may have for the future of the app.
