Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban in unanimous ruling
SUMMARY
The Supreme Court has unanimously upheld a law requiring ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, to divest its U.S. operations by January 19, 2025, or face a nationwide ban. The decision, citing national security concerns over TikTok’s data collection and ties to China, allows service providers like Apple and Google to face penalties if they support the app after the deadline. President-elect Donald Trump, set to take office a day after the deadline, may influence enforcement. TikTok’s refusal to sell could mean U.S. users lose access, though existing installations may function temporarily. Critics argue the law violates First Amendment rights, impacting creators and businesses. Alternatives like Instagram and RedNote have seen user surges, and reports suggest potential contingency plans involving Elon Musk acquiring TikTok’s U.S. operations. President Trump has also hinted that he does not want the app to be banned, without go so far as to suggest a plan to save it.
