What To Know
- The popular video-sharing platform has made numerous attempts to halt a law that requires it to sell to a third party to continue operating in the US.
- Content creators have also petitioned the court to invalidate the law, claiming that a ban would strip millions of Americans of their ability to communicate and engage with online communities.
TikTok is on the verge of facing a significant ban in the United States. The popular video-sharing platform has made numerous attempts to halt a law that requires it to sell to a third party to continue operating in the US. Its last resort was filing an appeal with the Supreme Court, but early signs suggest that the situation may remain unchanged.
potential supreme court decision
The US Supreme Court might uphold a law demanding TikTok’s sale by its Chinese parent company, ByteDance Ltd., by January 19. This legislation was enacted after receiving bipartisan support in Congress and subsequent approval by the President.
During oral arguments in Washington, most justices emphasized prioritizing national security concerns over freedom of expression interests for both the platform and its content creators. The law is framed as targeting ByteDance specifically due to its close ties with the Chinese government.
arguments from tiktok and bytedance
TikTok and ByteDance argue that the legislation overlooks freedom of expression rights. The company asserts that fears regarding foreign influence are unfounded, highlighting TikTok Inc.’s status as an American company headquartered in California. Content creators have also petitioned the court to invalidate the law, claiming that a ban would strip millions of Americans of their ability to communicate and engage with online communities.
implications for apple and google
The administration defends the law as a critical national security measure. Arguments focus on potential Chinese control enabling propaganda dissemination, covert platform manipulation, and data collection from American users for espionage or blackmail purposes.
- The law centers solely on ownership and concerns related to data manipulation.
- Only one justice indicated possible support for overturning the law, describing government defense as “paternalistic.”
The legislation extends to technology companies hosting and distributing TikTok. Apple and Google could face financial penalties if they keep the app on their platforms. While TikTok wouldn’t immediately cease functioning for users, lack of updates could gradually degrade service quality.
potential outcomes
The court has scheduled a special session to deliver a definitive ruling on the law’s constitutionality before January 19. It reserves the option to issue an interim order regarding implementation while allowing more time for comprehensive consideration of case merits.
- If upheld, over 170 million TikTok users will be affected.
- ByteDance has consistently refused to consider selling but might reassess if a ban becomes imminent.
