The US Supreme Court has ruled to uphold a law banning the popular video-sharing app TikTok, citing national security risks associated with its ownership by Chinese tech company ByteDance. The ruling, handed down on Friday, means the law will take effect on Sunday, potentially resulting in significant consequences for TikTok and its millions of American users.
TikTok, which has become a major platform for social media expression, could face major losses as the ban will block its access to millions of users in the United States. The court’s decision underscores the government’s concerns that the app’s data collection practices could allow the Chinese government to use it for espionage or propaganda.
The law, which passed through Congress in 2024 with majority support, requires ByteDance to either sell TikTok or shut down its operations in the United States by January 19, 2025. The Supreme Court’s ruling rejected claims from ByteDance that the ban violated free speech rights. While acknowledging that TikTok serves as a crucial platform for expression, particularly for over 170 million Americans, the court deemed the national security concerns outweigh the platform’s role in free speech.
The court recognized that TikTok provides a unique and expansive outlet for engagement and community for many users. “There is no doubt that, for more than 170 million Americans, TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement, and source of community,” the court noted. However, it also emphasized that data collection practices and the strained US-China relations were substantial concerns.
In response to the ruling, the Biden administration has deferred the decision on enforcing the ban to President-elect Donald Trump, who will take office on January 20. Trump, who has previously expressed opposition to banning TikTok, discussed the matter in a phone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday. During his presidential campaign, Trump promised to protect TikTok from being banned, while also acknowledging concerns about the platform’s data privacy.
Trump’s incoming national security advisor, Mike Waltz, spoke to Fox News about the situation, acknowledging TikTok’s role in helping Trump communicate with voters during his campaign. However, Waltz also highlighted ongoing concerns over the app’s data privacy practices.The administration is reportedly considering measures to prevent the full blocking of TikTok in the US and to stop it from “going dark,” as he put it.
The ban stems from growing concerns about the app’s data collection practices and its potential vulnerability to exploitation by the Chinese government. The US government has long argued that TikTok poses a risk to national security, suggesting that the Chinese government could use the platform to access American user data or push pro-China narratives.
TikTok CEO Shou Chew is set to attend Trump’s inauguration ceremony on Monday, signaling ongoing discussions between the platform’s leadership and the incoming administration. With the ban on the horizon, TikTok’s future in the US remains uncertain, as the company and the US government continue to grapple with the complex issue of data privacy and national security.
The US Supreme Court’s ruling marks a significant moment in the ongoing battle over TikTok’s presence in the US. The platform’s future in the country depends on whether ByteDance can resolve the concerns raised by the government or if it will comply with the law’s requirements to either sell the app or cease operations entirely.
