US Supreme Court Set to Hear Case on TikTok Ban

The US Supreme Court will soon hear a crucial case that could impact the future of TikTok in the country. The case centers around the potential ban of the popular social media app, which has raised concerns over digital privacy, national security, and freedom of speech. A ruling could set a significant precedent for tech regulation and online content management in the United States.

The US Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case concerning TikTok just nine days before the app could be banned unless ByteDance divests from it. The Supreme Court is set to review TikTok's appeal on Friday against a law that would require its Chinese owner to either sell the app or shut it down.

The case comes shortly before TikTok faces a ban unless ByteDance sells its stake by January 19, as per a law signed by President Joe Biden in April. The law would prevent TikTok from being available in US app stores and web hosting services unless ByteDance divests. The US government claims TikTok allows Beijing to gather data, spy on users, and spread propaganda, while China and ByteDance deny these accusations.

TikTok argues that the law, called the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, violates its First Amendment rights.

A TikTok spokesperson stated, “We believe the Court will deem the TikTok ban unconstitutional so that over 170 million Americans can continue to exercise their free speech rights.” In its filing, TikTok asserted that Congress has imposed an unprecedented restriction on free speech, which would shut down one of America's most widely used platforms.

The platform also argued that this move would silence many Americans who use TikTok to discuss topics like politics, commerce, and arts. The possible ban could exacerbate US-China tensions just as Donald Trump prepares to take office on January 20. Trump, who has 14.7 million followers on TikTok, has become an unexpected ally of the platform, reversing his previous stance during his first term when he tried to ban it for national security reasons.

Trump’s lawyer, John Sauer, submitted a brief to the Supreme Court last month requesting a delay of the law's enforcement. In the brief, Sauer emphasized that the president-elect is not taking a position on the case's legal aspects but is asking the court to delay the divestment deadline to allow the new administration to address the issue politically.

Trump, in a meeting with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew at his Mar-a-Lago residence in December, expressed support for TikTok, stating, “You need competition.” A coalition of free speech organizations, including the ACLU, filed a brief opposing the law, arguing it would cause significant disruptions to Americans' online engagement. They claimed the law would lead to unprecedented censorship in the US.

In a last-minute development, US billionaire Frank McCourt revealed plans to form a consortium to purchase TikTok’s US assets from ByteDance, with hopes of reaching an agreement. “We’ve made a proposal to ByteDance,” McCourt said. “We look forward to working with ByteDance, President-elect Trump, and the incoming administration to finalize this deal.” AFP and other fact-checking organizations are paid by TikTok to verify videos for potential misinformation across several countries.

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Source: NDTV‍