US Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban
Photo: The United States is likely to ban TikTok on its territory (Getty Images)
The US Supreme Court has upheld a law mandating the ban of TikTok starting January 19, 2025, unless Chinese parent company ByteDance sells the platform to an American company, Reuters reports.
The court ruled that the law, enacted last year and signed by President Joe Biden, does not violate the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which protects freedom of speech.
"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. But Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well-supported national security concerns regarding TikTok's data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary," the court's decision stated.
The ruling came swiftly, just nine days before the deadline, following hearings held on January 10.
TikTok, used by nearly half of the US population, predominantly young people, hosts an extensive collection of short videos up to one minute long, which users can watch via its app or website. Its algorithms tailor content to individual preferences.
For years, TikTok's ownership by ByteDance has raised concerns among US leaders, as tensions between Washington and Beijing persist in both economic and geopolitical arenas.
Earlier this week, Democrats attempted to pass legislation delaying the TikTok ban, but it was blocked. According to the Associated Press, President Joe Biden will not impose a ban on TikTok and may leave the matter for incoming President Donald Trump to decide.
Today, Trump held a phone call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, stating that the TikTok ban was one of the topics discussed. Reports also indicate that TikTok's CEO plans to attend Trump's inauguration on January 20.
