TikTok urges US Supreme Court to block government’s ban decision
TikTok and its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, have asked the US Supreme Court to block a government ban set to take effect next month. The ban would prohibit TikTok from operating in the US unless ByteDance sells it. TikTok argues that the law, which requires companies to stop providing services to the app, violates the First Amendment by singling out the platform. It also contends that the government has not proven the app poses a national security threat.
The law is set to go into effect on January 19, the day before President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated. However, Trump has expressed a more lenient view toward the app, saying he has a “warm spot” for TikTok and would consider reversing the hard-line approach taken during his presidency. TikTok hopes the new administration will pause enforcement of the ban or mitigate its effects.
The US Court of Appeals had previously rejected TikTok’s argument, affirming that Congress acted within its rights to protect national security. The law aims to prevent China from using TikTok to gather data or spread propaganda, though no evidence has been presented that China has used the app to influence US citizens.
TikTok, with its large user base in the US, argues that the ban would shut down one of the country’s most popular platforms for speech, entertainment, and business. The case is expected to have significant implications for free speech and the future of social media in the US. The Supreme Court will decide whether to intervene, with the outcome impacting millions of users and content creators.
