by Admin
Jan 19, 2025
The United States Supreme Court has affirmed a law that prohibits TikTok from operating in the country unless its parent company, ByteDance, based in China, sells the platform by this Sunday.
However, the Chinese social media giant contested the law, claiming it infringes on the free speech rights of its over 170 million users in the United States.
However, the Supreme Court unanimously dismissed this argument, leaving TikTok with the option to secure an approved buyer for the US version of the app or risk being removed from app stores and web hosting services.
The White House announced that incoming President Donald Trump’s administration, which begins on Monday, will enforce the law.
However, President-elect Donald Trump has promised to decide the matter in the coming weeks.
Shou Zi Chew, the CEO of Tiktok, who has expressed his anticipation to attend President Trump’s inauguration alongside other prominent guests, further expressed his gratitude to the incoming president for his willingness to collaborate with the social media app and ensure its continued availability in the United States.
On Friday, Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social: “The Supreme Court decision was expected, and everyone must respect it.
“My decision on TikTok will be made in the not-too-distant future, but I must have time to review the situation. Stay tuned!”
It could be recalled that late last year, both Democratic and Republican lawmakers voted to ban the video-sharing app due to concerns about its connections to the Chinese government and security concerns about the app being used as spyware on United States citizens.
In its defense, the Chinese social media platform has consistently maintained that it does not share user data with Beijing. Enacted in April of last year, the law gives TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, until January 19, 2025, to sell the US version of the platform to an independent party to avoid a complete ban.
With the ban going into effect on Sunday, Apple and Google have announced that they will cease offering the app to new users and will stop providing security updates to existing users, which could ultimately lead to its demise. ByteDance has stated that it will not sell TikTok and plans to shut down the app’s US operations on Sunday unless granted an extension.
The Supreme Court said, “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,”
It further added “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.”
Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary said: “TikTok should remain available to Americans, but simply under American ownership or other ownership that addresses the national security concerns identified by Congress in developing this law.”
She further added, “President Biden recognized actions to implement the law simply must fall to the next administration, which takes office on Monday”.
However, incoming President Trump also revealed he had spoken to China’s President Xi Jinping and discussed TikTok, among other issues.