US Supreme Court Affirms TikTok Ban
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Synopsis
The US Supreme Court has upheld a law that mandates the ban of TikTok unless it is sold by its Chinese parent company, Byte Dance. The ruling reflects national security concerns regarding the app's data practices. The future of the platform remains uncertain as the incoming administration may not enforce the ban immediately.
Key Takeaways
- US Supreme Court ruling was unanimous.
- TikTok has 170 million users in the US.
- The law requires TikTok's sale by April 2024.
- Concerns over data collection practices by Chinese authorities.
- India previously banned TikTok over similar national security concerns.
Washington, Jan 17 (NationPress) The US Supreme Court confirmed a law on Friday that prohibits TikTok, the popular video-sharing app, from continuing operations as of Sunday unless it is divested from its Chinese parent company.
The court's decision was unanimous. “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 stated in its opinion. “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 future of the app, which boasts 170 million users in the US, remains uncertain. The current administration has hinted that it might not enforce the ban on Sunday, which coincides with President Joe Biden’s final day in office.
Incoming President Donald Trump, however, has shown a preference for allowing the app to continue. He mentioned in a post on Truth Social that TikTok was among the topics he discussed with China’s President Xi Jinping just hours before the Supreme Court's ruling. Meanwhile, TikTok's CEO, Shou Zi Chew, is anticipated to attend Trump's inauguration on Monday.
The law will permit the app to remain operational for 90 days if Byte Dance, its parent company, is actively negotiating a sale. Reports suggest that the Chinese government would prefer Elon Musk, the billionaire and Trump advisor, to purchase the app, although other interested buyers have also emerged.
The US Congress enacted the law — which was signed by Biden — mandating TikTok's sale from Byte Dance or its shutdown by April 2024. Legislators and security analysts are concerned that Chinese authorities could access data from American users through Byte Dance, asserting that the only way to prevent this is by severing ties with its parent company.
In 2020, India banned TikTok along with 60 other Chinese apps due to national security risks.
